Emerging Trends in 2D Materials: Beyond Graphene for Next-Generation Applications

Two-dimensional (2D) materials have revolutionized material science due to their unique electronic, optical, and mechanical properties. While graphene initially spearheaded this field, the focus has expanded to encompass a diverse array of materials, including transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), hexagonal boron nitride (hBN), black phosphorus (BP), and emerging systems such as MXenes and layered perovskites. These materials offer tunable bandgaps, superior carrier mobilities, and novel physical phenomena, paving the way for groundbreaking advancements in electronics, photonics, energy storage, and biomedical applications. This review examines recent progress in 2D materials beyond graphene, highlighting synthesis techniques, properties, and key applications, and discusses the challenges and future directions in this rapidly evolving domain.