Electrochemical exfoliation of 2d materials

Abstract

A method for the production of non-carbon-based 2D materials and/or non-carbon-based 2D material nanoplatelet structures having a thickness of less than 100 nm in an electrochemical cell having a negative electrode which comprises a non-carbon-based bulk 2D material and an electronically conducting material such as a metal.

1 . A method for the production of non-carbon-based 2D materials and/or non-carbon-based 2D material nanoplatelet structures having a thickness of less than 100 nm in an electrochemical cell, wherein the cell comprises:
 (a) a negative electrode which comprises a non-carbon-based bulk 2D material and an electronically conducting material;   (b) a positive electrode; and   (c) an electrolyte;   and wherein the method comprises the step of passing a current through the cell.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electronically conducting material is a metal. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electronically conducting material is ferromagnetic. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electronically conducting material is nickel. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method produces hexagonal boron nitride and/or hexagonal boron nitride nanoplatelet structures. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method produces 2D transition metal dichalcogenide and/or transition metal dichalcogenide nanoplatelet structures. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the transition metal dichalcogenide is MoS2 or WS2. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method includes the step of preparing the electrode comprising a non-carbon-based bulk 2D material and an electronically conducting material, the method comprising:
 i. forming a slurry of the bulk 2D material, the electronically conducting material and a binder in a solvent;   ii. optionally milling the slurry;   iii. drying the slurry to obtain a powder;   iv. pressing the powder of step iii to form a pellet;   v. sintering the pellet of step iv.   
     
     
         9 . A method of preparing a pellet for use as a cathode comprising a non-carbon-based bulk 2D material and an electronically conducting material, the method comprising:
 i. forming a slurry of the bulk 2D material, the electronically conducting material and a binder in a solvent;   ii. optionally milling the slurry;   iii. drying the slurry to obtain a powder;   iv. pressing the powder of step iii to form a pellet;   v. sintering the pellet of step iv.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the binder is a polymer, optionally wherein the binder is a polyvinylalcohol. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the electronically conducting material is ferromagnetic. 
     
     
         12 . A pellet for use as a cathode comprising a admixture of non-carbon-based bulk 2D material and an electronically conducting material in a binder. 
     
     
         13 . The pellet of  claim 12 , wherein the electronically conducting material is ferromagnetic. 
     
     
         14 . A non-carbon-based 2D material or nanoplatelet structure obtainable by a method according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the binder is a polymer, optionally wherein the binder is a polyvinylalcohol. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the electronically conducting material is ferromagnetic.