Zero-valent Transition Metal Intercalation into 2D Materials: Electronic Structure Modulation and Applications

With state-of-the-art modulation of the electronic structure, novel physiochemical properties are anticipated for two-dimensional (2D) materials for a wide variety of potential applications. Due to the presence of charge transfer from transition metal guests and 2D material hosts, intercalation of zero-valent transition metal atoms into the van-der Waals gap of 2D materials are ideal approach to tuning the electronic structure of 2D materials. In this paper, several electronic structure and activity investigations of zero-valent transition metal intercalations of 2D materials, as well as the general concepts behind the experimental exploration were introduced. Specifically, the transition metal intercalation render 2D materials novel physicochemical properties with potential applications ranges from electrocatalysis, small molecule identification to spintronics. Based on the works and concepts introduced in this paper, several challenges and opportunities related to this field were proposed from our perspective.