Synthesis of Two‐dimensional Metallic Nanosheets: From Elemental Metals to Chemically Complex Alloys

Abstract Ultrathin two‐dimensional (2D) metallic materials with single‐ or few‐atom thickness, emerging as one new class of 2D materials, have attracted extraordinary interest due to their fantastic physical and chemical properties, and great potential applications in catalysis, biomedicine, electronics/optoelectronic devices, sensing, and energy storage. In contrast with graphene‐like 2D layered materials, facile fabrication of ultrathin 2D metallic materials remains a great challenge owing to their intrinsic tendency of metals to form three‐dimensional (3D) close‐packed structures. This article reviews and summarizes the recent progress‐both experimental and theoretical‐ in the synthesis of 2D metallic nanosheets from mono‐elemental metals to chemically complex alloys and offers perspectives and challenges on the future developments in this field.