Defect Engineering Strategies Toward Controlled Functionalization of Solution-Processed Transition Metal...

Solution-processed transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are attracting unceasing attention owing to their wide-ranging portfolio of physicochemical properties, making them prime candidates for low-cost and real-life applications in (opto)electronics, (bio)sensing, and energy-related technologies. The performance of TMD-based devices is strictly interconnected with the inherent features and quality of the materials, which should be tuned in view of their ultimate application. In this regard, the device performance is hitherto undermined by the presence of structural defects inherited from both the bulk systems and the exfoliation procedures. To overcome this limitation, a notable research effort has been devoted to the development of molecular strategies taking advantage of the defective nature of solution-processed TMDs, in order to meticulously tailor their physicochemical properties and expand the range of applicability. In this perspective, some of the most enlightening advances regarding the functionalization approaches exploiting TMD structural defects are presented, introducing the typical "imperfections" encountered in 2D crystal lattices (with different dimensionality, ranging from 0D to 2D) as well as discussing their in situ/ex situ generation methods. Finally, we highlight the future directions, challenges, and opportunities of defect engineering in TMDs by offering guidelines to boost the progress of 2D materials science and related technology.