Abstract
Layered or 2-dimensional (2D) solids are obtained with compounds that form strong bonds in-plane and much weaker bonds in the third dimension. The useful properties of layered solids and the possibility of modification by various post-synthesis treatments have attracted a lot of attention for many years, but there has been renewed interest in recent times.
Research into the fundamental science of layered solids has intensified in the last decade due to a number of emerging applications in catalysis, adsorption, photovoltaics and medicine, as our ability to handle individual layers, which are sometimes less than 1 nm thick, has improved. Manipulation and characterization of these materials calls for new experimental skills and modification of existing techniques.