Graphene-Like Two-Dimensional Materials

Graphene is composed of a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a two-dimensional (2D) honeycomb lattice. It is a fundamental building block for a range of well-known carbon materials such as three-dimensional (3D) graphite, one-dimensional (1D) carbon nanotubes, and zero-dimensional (0D) fullerene. Recognizing the uniqueness of the 2D structure, one may expect that such materials will reveal new and unexpected properties providing a number of innovative opportunities. In this comprehensive review, the present status of graphene-like 2D materials, which is a fairly new field, will be discussed by focusing on theoretical and experimental studies of their structural and electronic properties reported to date. There will be a special emphasis on the electronic properties of the pristine and chemically functionalized monolayer, bilayer, and multilayer sheets of graphene-like 2D systems as well as the latest synthetic achievements for producing 2D nanosheets.