As two dimensional (2D) materials have been established as important materials for modern technology like batteries, fuel cells, semiconductors and more, researchers have continued to explore their unique properties and synthesis routes. Along with new materials, there has been much exploration in the combining of 2D materials. This combination of 2D materials has been termed 2D heterostructure. This combination of materials can allow for a modification and combination of the individual properties of each material. Many of these structures had been made by simple stacking of 2D materials, resulting in layers of 2D materials bound by van der Waals (vdW) bonds. These vdW heterostructures open a vast new field of material applications but lack the robustness of materials bond by stronger chemical bonds. This has led to the need for the far more challenging structure of covalently bonded 2D heterostructures.

 

This work will dive into understanding the underlying principles of the formation of these covalently bonded heterostructures, such as growth mechanics, organic linkers, molecular orbital interactions, and crystalline lattice parameters. We will outline some current well-established methods for generating 2D covalently bonded heterostructures and explore the physical and chemical principles of material science required to understand the synthesis and properties of the structures. Using these principles, we will explore new opportunities for synthesizing novel 2D heterostructures.