Emerging 2D Carbon Allotropes for Sensing and Energy Applications

Graphene has revolutionized materials science and nanotechnology, showcasing extraordinary electrical, mechanical, and thermal properties. However, its zero-bandgap nature limits its direct applicability in certain electronic devices, and the exploration of diverse structural motifs within the 2D carbon family offers new avenues for tailored functionalities. The broad family of 2D carbon allotropes — from graphene itself and its engineered derivatives to the emerging “beyond graphene” materials — characterized by varying arrangements of sp, sp², and sp³ hybridized carbon atoms, promises a rich landscape of novel electronic, optical, and chemical properties. These emerging materials, including graphynes, graphdiynes, phagraphene, pentagraphene, and various porous or engineered graphene derivatives, often possess intrinsic porosity, tunable bandgaps, and unique surface chemistries that complement graphene’s own exceptional characteristics, making the entire 2D carbon family highly attractive for advanced sensing and energy technologies.

This research topic invites research focusing on the theoretical prediction, synthesis, characterization, and application of 2D carbon allotropes, spanning graphene and its engineered forms as well as those beyond conventional graphene. Specific areas of interest include, but are not limited to:

Novel 2D Carbon Allotrope Design and Discovery:

• Theoretical predictions and computational studies of new stable or metastable 2D carbon structures (e.g., various graphynes/diynes, T-carbon, haeckelite carbon, etc.) and their unique electronic, mechanical, and optical properties.

• Investigation of the stability, electronic band structure, charge carrier mobility, and surface reactivity of these materials.

• Strategies for defect engineering and functionalization of novel 2D carbon allotropes.

Controlled Synthesis and Fabrication:

• Innovative synthetic methodologies for the bottom-up or top-down fabrication of specific 2D carbon allotropes, including chemical vapor deposition (CVD), solution-phase synthesis, and supramolecular approaches.

• Challenges and advancements in achieving large-area, high-quality, and phase-pure synthesis of 2D carbon materials across the full structural spectrum.

• Development of techniques for precise control over morphology, thickness, and domain size.

Advanced Characterization:

• Application of cutting-edge experimental techniques (e.g., high-resolution TEM/STEM, advanced spectroscopy, scanning probe microscopy) for structural elucidation and confirmation of novel 2D carbon allotropes.

• Probing their intrinsic properties, including electronic transport, optical response, and surface chemistry, through in situ and operando characterization methods.

Applications in Sensing Technologies:

• Gas and Chemical Sensors: Leveraging inherent porosity, specific adsorption sites, and tunable bandgaps for enhanced sensitivity, selectivity, and rapid response in detecting various gases (e.g., VOCs, H₂, CO₂, NOₓ), ions, and chemical species.

• Biosensors: Developing highly sensitive and selective platforms for biomolecule detection (e.g., DNA, proteins, glucose, pathogens) through surface functionalization and unique transducing mechanisms offered by these novel allotropes.

• Electrochemical Sensors: Utilizing distinct electrochemical properties for improved detection limits and stability in electroanalysis.

• Optical Sensors: Exploiting unique optical properties for plasmonic, fluorescent, or Raman-based sensing applications.

Applications in Energy Technologies:

• Energy Storage (Batteries and Supercapacitors): Design of electrodes with high surface area, optimized pore structures, and improved ion/electron transport for next-generation lithium-ion, sodium-ion, solid-state batteries, and high-performance supercapacitors.

• Catalysis and Electrocatalysis: Utilizing unique carbon atom environments (e.g., sp-hybridized carbons in graphyne, specific defects) as active sites for various catalytic reactions, including oxygen reduction/evolution reactions (ORR/OER), hydrogen evolution reactions (HER), and CO₂ reduction.

• Fuel Cells: Enhancing catalytic activity and durability of fuel cell components.

• Solar Energy Conversion: Exploring their potential in photocatalysis, organic photovoltaics, and thermoelectric devices due to tunable bandgaps and absorption characteristics.

• Hydrogen Storage: Investigating the capacity and reversibility of hydrogen adsorption in porous 2D carbon allotropes.

Despite immense promise, significant challenges remain, particularly in the scalable, high-purity synthesis and practical device integration of these materials. Contributions that address these challenges, propose innovative solutions, or offer critical perspectives on the commercialization pathway of these emerging 2D carbon allotropes are highly encouraged. This topic aims to bring together interdisciplinary research, fostering new discoveries and paving the way for the next generation of carbon-based technologies.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• Mini Review
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• Mini Review
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review

Keywords: 2D Carbon Allotropes, Graphyne and Graphdiyne Materials, Beyond Graphene Nanostructures, Controlled Synthesis and Characterization, Defect Engineering and Functionalization, Sensing Applications, Energy Applications

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.