Thermal Properties of Two Dimensional Layered Materials

The rise of graphene has motivated intensive investigation into other two-dimensional layered materials (2DLMs). In addition to their superior optical, electrical, and mechanical properties, 2DLMs have also demonstrated intriguing thermal properties, the understanding of which is not only fundamentally important but also critical to enabling widespread applications in electronics, optoelectronics, and energy conversion and storage devices. Here, we review recent progress in the thermal transport of 2DLMs. Indeed, due to unique and diversified two dimensional crystal structures and the contribution of different phonon modes to thermal transport, while the family of 2DLMs share common thermal properties, such as layer-dependent thermal conductivity, each member also has unique features related to thermal transport. Ultimately, the unusual and rich thermal properties of two-dimensional materials can lay a solid foundation for understanding new phonon transport physics and potentially lead to novel applications in various emerging fields.