Production routes, electromechanical properties and potential application of layered nanomaterials and 2D nanopolymeric composites-a review

Material science has always played a vital role in the evolution of provisions for humans. Exfoliation of stable 2D graphene layer has motivated intense research in nanomaterials in the past few years. 2D materials have exceptional electrical, mechanical and thermal properties. Advancement of research regarding 2D sheets largely depends on the ability to synthesize nanosheets of various materials and size as well as to assemble/ incorporate these sheets into complex architecture, i.e. polymeric composites (Potts et al. in Polymer 52:5-25, 2011). Different synthesis routes of 2D nanosheets like liquid exfoliation, dry exfoliation and chemical vapour deposition will be discussed. (Nicolosi et al. in Science 340:1226419, 2013). We will also review the impact of 2D filler loading on electrical and mechanical properties of different polymer matrix (Mittal et al. in J Ind Eng Chem 21:11-25, 2015). Various applications of 2D polymeric nanocomposites in different fields such as electronic devices, textile industry, photovoltaic modules, thermoelectric devices, photo-detecting devices, field-effect transistors, energy storage, sensor and biomedical applications will be highlighted in this research article.