Recent progress in the synthesis and applications of 2D metal nanosheets

The design and controlled synthesis of two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials have been widely studied because the properties and functions of nanomaterials are highly dependent on their sizes, shapes, and dimensionalities. For instance, 2D metal nanosheets (2DMNSs) have attracted a significant amount of attention owing to their interesting properties, which are absent in corresponding bulk counterparts, and they have been confirmed to have potential applications in electrocatalysis, optics, and biomedicine. However, because of the close-packed structures of metals, the large-scale fabrication of 2DMNSs is challenging. In this review, we have outlined the research progress in the field of 2DMNSs, including the typical synthesis approaches and newly developed methods, as well as promising applications of the materials reported in recent years. Moreover, some preliminary and promising strategies to further improve the properties of 2DMNSs and some insights for the development of the field have been included.