Preparation and application of 0D-2D nanomaterial hybrid heterostructures for energy applications

Abstract

As research efforts into the two-dimensional (2D) materials continue to mature, finding applications in which they can be productively used has become of greater interest. Applications in the energy sector are of particular importance, with the pressing need to decarbonize our economy and to live more sustainably. For a material to be optimal for an application we typically tailor their specific properties and characteristics to best fit with the desired parameters. In the past, this has included the forging of metal alloys or the doping of semiconductors, allowing us to controllably adjust the material properties. For two-dimensional materials, one of the best routes for such controlled manipulation is via forming a heterostructure, or hybrid, with another nanomaterial. In this review, we will explore the emergence of 0D-2D hybrid materials, where a 2D layered material is combined with a zero-dimensional (0D) nanoparticle or fullerene to adjust and enhance overall performance. We will cover the basics of their structure and modes of interaction, the different synthetic methods used for their assembly and preparation and review several energy applications in which promising results have already been achieved.

Keywords

• 2D materials
• Graphene
• Fullerenes
• 0D-2D hybrid
• 2d heterostructure
• Catalysts