This
paper reviews recent studies on the preparation
of two-dimensional
(2D) metal nanostructures, particularly nanosheets. As metal often
exists in the high-symmetry crystal phase, such as face centered cubic
structures, reducing the symmetry is often needed for the formation
of low-dimensional nanostructures. Recent advances in characterization
and theory allow for a deeper understanding of the formation of 2D
nanostructures. This Review firstly describes the relevant theoretical
framework to help the experimentalists understand chemical driving
forces for the synthesis of 2D metal nanostructures, followed by
examples on the shape control of different metals. Recent applications
of 2D metal nanostructures, including catalysis, bioimaging, plasmonics,
and sensing, are discussed. We end the Review with a summary and outlook
of the challenges and opportunities in the design, synthesis, and
application of 2D metal nanostructures.