2D Elemental Nanomaterials Beyond Graphene

Layered materials composed of a single element form a new family of 2D materials. Graphene is a well-known 2D material of this family with potential applications. 2D materials of other elements which are located around carbon in the periodic table have recently come to the fore. Borophene in group-III, silicene, germanene and stanene in group-IV are synthetic 2D materials, showing stability on suitable substrates. Phosphorene, arsenene, antimonene and bismuthene in group-V are obtained from exfoliation of their layered bulk allotropes. Silicene, phosphorene and antimonene are interesting in terms of stability and properties leading to possible applications. Chemically functionalized phosphorene shows ambient stability and good photocatalytic activity. More information can be found in the Minireview by C. N. R. Rao et al.