2D materials with common hexagonal crystal structures, such as graphene, hexagonal boron nitride, and transition metal dichalcogenides have attracted great interest due to their novel physical and chemical properties. Pentagonal transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) exhibit distinct optical, electrical, and chemical properties, with valuable functionalities for various applications. This review highlights some of the most important developments in this field, with emphasis on their functionalities for neuromorphic computing, transistors, photodetection, catalysts, etc. Strategies for modifying their physical and chemical properties as well as device performance including defect engineering and interface engineering are presented. Finally, a forward‐looking outlook of pentagonal 2D materials is discussed.

The development of lithium-ion batteries largely relies on the cathode and anode materials. In particular, the optimization of cathode materials plays an extremely important role in improving the performance of lithium-ion batteries, such as specific capacity or cycling stability. Carbon coating modifying the surface of cathode materials is regarded as an effective strategy that meets the demand of Lithium-ion battery cathodes. This work mainly reviews the modification mechanism and method of carbon coating, and summarizes the recent progress of carbon coating on some typical cathode materials (LiFePO4, LiMn2O4, LiCoO2, NCA (LiNiCoAlO2) and NCM (LiNiMnCoO2)). In addition, the limitations of the carbon coating on the cathode are also introduced. Suggestions on improving the effectiveness of carbon coating for future study are also presented.