A Review of Intercalation of Rare Gas Solids on Graphene and Hexagonal Boron Nitride

Intercalation has recently emerged as a powerful tool due to its unique capability of modifying the properties of materials without breaking their chemical bonds. The ultrathin lattice structure of two-dimensional (2D) materials with strong in-plane covalent bonding and weak out-of-plane bonding between neighboring layers allow for the successful utilization of this powerful technique. The physics and chemistry of intercalated foreign species in 2D host materials, especially graphene and hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN), are the focus of this review article. Among many foreign species, special attention is given to rare gas solids that introduce unprecedented physical and chemical properties in the targeted host materials. The historical background of intercalation is briefly discussed, and a comprehensive review of the very recent progress in the intercalation of rare gas solids in graphene and h-BN is then provided. Different technologies used for the growth of the host materials and for the intercalation of rare gas species are also described. The remarkable potential of the resulting hybrid materials is outlined for diverse applications, including sensing, water filtration, and nanoelectromechanical devices.