Property modulations of two-dimensional materials under compression

Two-dimensional (2D) materials have attracted considerable research interest, leading to significant advances in energy applications in recent years, such as lithium batteries, catalysis, electronics, and thermoelectrics, owing to their rich controllable properties and excellent performances. Recently, pressure has been successfully employed as an effective method for property modulation of 2D materials, through tuning electronic orbitals and bonding patterns. In this review, we summarize recent progresses in the pressure-driven property modulations and elucidate the underlying mechanism of the pressure modulation of 2D materials. Further, we identify the remaining challenges and opportunities in this new, vibrant area of research for energy conversion and utilization. Among the different property modulation strategies, the in situ application of high pressure is systematically identified as a promising knob for 2D materials. This review is expected to inspire further research on the fundamental understanding and practical applications of high-pressure modulation in 2D materials.