Nanocomposites of 2D Materials for Enhanced Electrochemical Properties

Technological evolution and innovations are the only way for addressing the issues related to the energy crisis. Developing and inventing new technologies based on highly efficient, low cost, stable, and pollution-free working materials are the suitable path for achieving this goal. Two-dimensional (2D) materials are materials which have potential to fulfill these qualities. Earlier, graphene got attention of researchers due to its extraordinary properties like high surface area, high thermal and electrical conductivities, and brilliant optical and mechanical properties. Later, it was found that like graphene there are other materials, which exhibit 2D structure and also contest with graphene exceptional properties. These materials are MoS₂, WS₂, MoSe₂, and WSe₂ collectively known as transition metal dichalcogenides, layered double hydroxides, LAPONITEs clay, hexagonal boron nitride, black phosphorous, a family of monoelemental compounds (Xenes), metal oxides, graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄), metal nitrides/carbides (MXenes), transition metal halides (e.g., PbI₂and MgBr₂), transition metal oxides (e.g., MnO₂ and MoO₃), perovskite-type oxides (e.g., K₂Ln₂Ti₃O₁₀ and RbLnTa₂O₇ (Ln: lanthanide ion)), and 2D polymers. As these materials are found to be highly efficient in one or another aspect but for tailoring and exploiting the relevant properties and enhancing the performance one needs to form suitable composites of these materials. This chapter describes the different types of 2D material composites like polymer composites, metal-matrix composites, and heterostructure composites and their synthesis methods. Also, the applications of these 2D materials composites employing enhanced electrochemical properties in various areas like supercapacitor, batteries, and sensing have been discussed.