Electrocatalysis on ultra-thin 2D electrodes: New concepts and prospects for tailoring reactivity

The convergence of surface and bulk in 2D electrodes enables the swift exploration and control of interfacial reactivity. Owing to their versatile synthesis and modification, these interfaces have emerged as unique electrode models to study the impact of electrode composition, heterostructure formation, and the presence of defects, on their electrocatalytic response. This is because the ultra-thin nature of materials such as graphene, MoS₂, and MXenes allows to amplify the role of these structural motifs in defining their electrode responses. Their 2D geometry also facilitates the systematic tailoring of properties for enhancing reactivity using simple methodologies such as adsorption and elemental substitution. In this opinion, we showcase and discuss how these aspects make 2D materials an attractive platform for understanding electrocatalysis.