Chemical Vapor Transport Reactions for Synthesizing Layered Materials and Their 2D Counterparts

2D materials, namely thin layers of layered materials, are attracting much attention because of their unique electronic, optical, thermal, and catalytic properties for wide applications. To advance both the fundamental studies and further practical applications, the scalable and controlled synthesis of large-sized 2D materials is desired, while there still lacks ideal approaches. Alternatively, the chemical vapor transport reaction is an old but powerful technique, and is recently adopted for synthesizing 2D materials, producing bulk crystals of layered materials or corresponding 2D films. Herein, recent advancements in synthesizing both bulk layered and 2D materials by chemical vapor transport reactions are summarized. Beginning with a brief introduction of the fundamentals of chemical vapor transport reactions, chemical vapor transport–based syntheses of bulk layered and 2D materials, mainly exampled by transition metal dichalcogenides and black phosphorus, are reviewed. Particular attention is paid to important factors that can influence the reactions and the growth mechanisms of black phosphorus. Finally, perspectives about the chemical vapor transport–based synthesis of 2D materials are discussed, intending to redraw attentions on chemical vapor transport reactions.