Recent advances in inorganic 2D materials and their applications in lithium and sodium batteries

Two-dimensional inorganic materials, such as exfoliated graphene, have been under much research attention as of late, for their high surface-to-mass ratio and unique physical and chemical properties. Many of these properties are highly sought after in Li/Na-based batteries. In this paper, we review recent advances in inorganic 2D materials and summarize their applications as: (i) the electrode materials or additives for Li/Na-ion batteries; (ii) the scaffold or interfacial layer for lithium-metal anodes; (iii) the cathode for Li/Na-O-2 batteries; and (iv) the anchoring material for lithium polysulfides for Li-S batteries. The challenges of employing 2D materials in these Li/Na-based batteries to improve performance are discussed and possible solutions are proposed.