Applications of layered materials in electrochemistry and biomedicine

Abstract

Layered materials are at the forefront of materials research owing to their exceptional and unique characteristics which varies in both bulk and single-layer forms. Layered materials are versatile materials for a myriad of applications. In this thesis, we extend our studies to recent layered materials including metal carbides and borides, transition metal dichalcogenides, pnictogens and functionalized germanene and silicene. With an increasing demand in clean and renewable energy, layered materials are promising alternatives in electrochemical clean energy applications. As electrochemistry plays an essential role in this field, we aim to expand the current understanding by investigating fundamental electrochemical studies of these layered materials as well as studying them as electrocatalysts for electrochemical sensing and important energy reactions. In addition, their toxicological properties need to be well understood in order to recognize any safety hazards that they may pose to humans and the environment. Hence, we supplement our investigations with safety studies on these materials to allow a preliminary gauge on their toxic impacts. Lastly, we expand our research on layered materials to biomedicine, specifically as anticancer drug carriers with high loading capacity due to their nanoscale and two-dimensional nature. These studies are vital in contributing to the pool of ongoing research on layered materials and their progress towards commercialization in electrochemical and biomedical applications.