Recent progress of two-dimensional metallic transition metal dichalcogenides: Syntheses, physical properties, and applications

Abstract

Two-dimensional (2D) metallic transition metal dichalcogenides (MTMDCs) are emerging as an appealing class of materials for a wide range of research topics, including electronics, spintronics, and energy-related fields, in view of their unique physical and chemical properties. Notably, the controlled synthesis of such promising materials is a prerequisite. In this Perspective, we review the up-to-date advances regarding the syntheses and physical properties of 2D MTMDCs, as well as their multifunctional applications. First, a variety of synthetic strategies of 2D MTMDCs, such as chemical exfoliation, chemical vapor transport, atomic layer deposition, molecular beam epitaxy, and chemical vapor deposition, are systematically summarized. Second, the fundamental physical properties of 2D MTMDCs are introduced, including charge density wave order, ferromagnetism, and superconductivity. Third, the versatile applications of 2D MTMDCs in electronic devices and energy-related fields are discussed. Finally, the challenges about the exploration of controlled syntheses, interesting physical issues, and multifunctional applications are highlighted, and future directions are also proposed. We believe that this Perspective is comprehensive and insightful for the controllable syntheses, physical property characterizations, and application exploitations of 2D MTMDCs.