2D materials via liquid exfoliation: a review on fabrication and applications

Since graphene was discovered, the study of two-dimensional (2D) materials with atomic thickness has become a hot spot. To prepare different 2D materials, different methods have been groped, such as mechanical exfoliation, chemical vapor deposition (CVD), liquid-phase exfoliation. This review mainly introduced the sonication liquid-phase exfoliation, an effective method to prepare 2D materials. Compared with mechanical exfoliation and CVD methods, liquid-phase exfoliation is convenient and cost-effective and provides high yield. We focused on both theoretical and experimental details of this method. This method was reviewed according to the development of 2D materials from graphene, h-BN to transition metal chalcogenides (TMDs) and black phosphorus nanosheets. We discussed the applications of liquid-exfoliated 2D materials including micro- and nanoelectrical devices, photoelectric devices, and energy storage devices.