van der Waals Gap Engineering of Emergent Two-Dimensional Materials

Layered materials bound by weak van der Waals (vdW) interactions offer a rich platform for exploring intriguing fundamental science in the two-dimensional (2D) limit and advancing technological innovations. Transition from bulk to 2D geometry results in profound alterations in electronic structures and crystallographic symmetries, giving rise to a plethora of novel physical effects and functionalities. Due to their atomic-scale thinness, 2D materials with a high specific surface area enable post-processing chemical modification of their basal planes to further regulate their intrinsic physical properties. Moreover, the interfacial effects induced by surface modifications can modulate properties without altering the original lattice, facilitating the emergence of novel electronic phases and exotic quantum phenomena. Consequently, extensive research is delving into surface modifications of 2D materials, paving the way to further expand the research fields of 2D materials.