Graphdiyne and its derivatives: a stabilizer for metastable particles

Graphdiyne (GDY), as an emerging carbon material, is a novel two-dimensional allotrope of carbon that possesses superior structural and performance characteristics. It not only exhibits both sp-sp2 hybridized orbitals with a high degree of π-conjugation but also features a uniformly distributed porous structure guaranteeing GDY excellent electron transfer and ion diffusion properties. Most importantly, GDY exhibits a high density of acetylene bonds, which bestow it with the ability to adsorb metallic atoms, load metal particles, and diminish the surface energy of metal particles. The strong interaction between GDY’s unique 2D scaffold and the high activity of the loaded metal species generates significant synergistic, confinement, and quantum size effects. These outstanding composite effects draw forth superior performance in various fields, including catalysis, energy storage and conversion, and biochemical. In this review, we provide a systematic overview of GDY-based composites by categorizing the metal loadings into three scales: single atoms, nanoclusters, and nanoparticles. For each category, the discussion will cover their distinct structural features, synthesis methods, material properties, and fields of application. TOC: This review provides a thorough overview of GDY-based composite, highlighting its categories, synthetic principle, applications, advantages, challenges, and opportunities.