Surface physics in the growth of two-dimensional single crystals

<p indent="0mm">The atomic thickness and unique physical properties of two-dimensional (2D) layered materials offer new opportunities for technological breakthroughs. However, the practical application of these properties requires large-area single crystals, which are currently limited in size and greatly restrict their use in chip-level devices. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the physical mechanisms behind the growth of large-area 2D single crystals. Since 2D materials inherently are surface systems due to the distribution of atoms and electrons on the surface, surface physics can be employed to tune the growth of 2D single crystals. This paper reviews the current developments of such ideology from three key perspectives: tune the substrate by the surface/interface energy, tune the growth rate by local element released from the surface, and tune the growth orientation by surface symmetry. Additionally, it provides insights into future applications of 2D single crystals in practical devices.