Novel synthesis, properties and applications of emerging group VA two-dimensional monoelemental materials (2D-Xenes)

Two-dimensional materials (2D materials) have been the focal point of recent advanced research owing to their new properties and probability for enlightening fascinating novel phenomena. One sub-group of the atomically thin 2D material family with great potential is the mono-elemental 2D-crystals called “Xenes” (“ene” Latin word meaning sheets and X = group III–VI elements). 2D-Xenes are the newest and most active area of research in the nanomaterial (NM) family. Modern synthesis and highly sensitive characterization techniques offer the opportunity to investigate theoretically envisaged 2D-Xenes with atomic accuracy under ideal conditions and allow experimental investigations to support theory. The experimentally supported theoretically proposed synthetic 2D-Xenes of the group V elements (phosphorene (PP), arsenene (AN), antimonene (AM), and bismuthene (BM)), also known as pnictogen elements, are similar to semiconductor (SC) materials. Thus, the group V 2D-Xene analogs of graphene offer exciting potential for future novel nano-devices, e.g., optoelectronic, biomedical, and sensing devices. In this topical review, we briefly provide various aspects of the group V 2D-Xenes, ranging from their synthetic methodologies to their applications in different devices. Briefly, we will first explain the different potential methods to synthesize the group V 2D-Xenes and present a brief synopsis of the key information about their properties obtained by theoretical calculations and experimental investigations. Finally, we discuss in detail the possible applications of group V 2D-Xenes for fundamental oriented studies and their limitations and future prospective.