Beyond Pristine Layers: Engineering van der Waals MPX₃ Materials (M: Transition Metal, X: Chalcogen) via Defects,...

Recent breakthroughs and achievements in the studies of 2D materials have led to the increased attention to the respective van der Waals parent compounds. Herein, the class of layered materials-so-called transition metal phosphorus trichalcogenides (MPX₃; M: transition metal, X: chalcogen)-has been recently investigated extensively due to the diversity in their properties depending on the M/X combination. Moreover, further studies demonstrate the large tunability of the electronic, optical, and magnetic properties of these materials using different methods, like defects' engineering, alloying, adsorption, or intercalation. In the present review, several discussed approaches are focused on, highlighting the mechanisms leading to the properties' modifications and drawing perspectives on the further studies and developments in this class of materials.