Liquid metal as a versatile platform for 2D materials: synthesis, transfer, morphology modulation, and applications.

Abstract

Two-dimensional (2D) materials have attracted extensive attention because their stackable structures and tunable properties enable applications across various fields. Liquid metals (LMs), featuring atomically smooth surfaces, self-limiting oxidation, controllable phase transitions, and mechanical conformability, provide a versatile platform for the synthesis, transfer, and morphology engineering of 2D materials. In this review, we summarize three roles of LMs in 2D material synthesis, including serving as substrates, surface oxide sources, and precursors, and discuss the corresponding material systems and synthesis mechanisms. We then discuss recent advances in LM-assisted transfer and morphology modulation of 2D materials. Subsequently, we highlight applications of LM-enabled 2D materials in electronics, optoelectronics, flexible devices, and other fields. Finally, we discuss future opportunities in artificial intelligence-assisted design of LM systems, advanced characterization of 2D material interfaces, regulation of LM surface properties, discovery of new materials and emergent properties, and scalable production and integration toward applications.

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