Advances in ultrathin borophene materials

Ultrathin two-dimensional (2D) materials are receiving great attention in recent years and search for new ultrathin materials is continued after the isolation of the graphene. The 2D materials have displayed a wide range of different extraordinary properties that considered groundbreaking for various fields. Borophene is another magical 2D material addition to the family of ultrathin materials. Theoretically explained borophene has come into realism after the successful synthesis of 2D triangular structure on the Ag substrates in 2015. Unlike boron, the borophene has displayed a high metallic character. Borophene is a great conductor of heat and electricity. Borophene has exhibited high anisotropy and great flexibility. Most of the work on borophene is still theoretical and very little experimental work is observed. This review provided the current status of borophene, synthesis, and applications. Borophene is extensively being explored in the field of gas storage, batteries, catalysis, and sensors. It can help to achieve powerful high-performance batteries by serving as an electrode material and it has an excellent capacity to sense various toxic gases. It is predicted that borophene has a powerful capacity to store hydrogen fuel and act as a catalyst. In the coming years, the rapid surge in the borophene research to experimentally utilize its catalytic, electronic, and mechanical features is anticipated.