Intercalation in two-dimensional transition metal chalcogenides: interlayer engineering and applications

Abstract

Intercalation is basically a process of putting one or multiple guest elements in the van der Waals (vdW) gaps of a parent crystal in a reversible way. Two-dimensional (2D) materials showed great promise for different intercalant species ranging from organic molecules to ions. Apart from graphene, the most studied 2D materials are the transition metal di-chalcogenides (TMDs). The intercalation in TMDs has reinvented the strategies beyond graphene in 2D structure in material science, materials engineering, chemistry, and physics. This review deals with the possible mechanism as well as the window that intercalation can open for compact and ultrathin device technology. Modulation of the physicochemical properties in the intercalated TMDs has been thoroughly reviewed. Finally, the device performance, especially energy storage and energy harvesting devices, has been evaluated, and specific issues have been chalked out that need attention for future development.

Engineered Two-Dimensional Transition Metal Dichalcogenides for Energy Conversion and Storage

“…3 Additionally, the small interlayer spacing of the 2D TMD results in slower ion diffusion and intercalation, which can adversely affect the supercapacitor performance. 32 The random restacking of 2D nanosheets during electrode processing in electrochemical devices gives rise to stability-related concerns, which have a detrimental impact on electrolyte penetration and cyclic stability. 33 Many of these structural issues can be overcome by engineering the TMD structure and consequently their properties through different means and can in turn result in enhanced performances for ECS applications (Figure 1a).…”

“…Moreover, the basal planes of TMDs are chemically inactive and do not contribute to catalytic activity, seriously affecting the catalytic performance . Additionally, the small interlayer spacing of the 2D TMD results in slower ion diffusion and intercalation, which can adversely affect the supercapacitor performance . The random restacking of 2D nanosheets during electrode processing in electrochemical devices gives rise to stability-related concerns, which have a detrimental impact on electrolyte penetration and cyclic stability .…”

Effect of 3d Transition Metal Atom Intercalation Concentration on the Electronic and Magnetic Properties of Graphene/MoS2 Heterostructure: A First-Principles Study

“…To date, various approaches have been developed to further manipulate the properties of 2D vdW heterostructures, such as creating point defects [ 11 , 12 ], doping impurity atoms [ 13 , 14 ], applying electric fields [ 15 ], exerting external strains [ 16 , 17 ], and intercalating metal atoms [ 18 , 19 ]. Among them, the intercalation of metal atoms in the interlayer gap has become a promising way of designing the physical properties of 2D vdW heterostructures [ 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 ], which has the advantage of not disrupting the structure of the monolayer [ 24 ]. These intercalators can act as bridges between the monolayers separated by vdW gaps, effectively enhancing interlayer interactions and influencing material properties through charge transfer, band gap engineering, phonon scattering, and so on [ 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ].…”