Synthesis of oxygen and boron trihalogenide functionalized two-dimensional layered materials in pressurized medium

A method for the synthesis of covalently or charge transfer functionalized and exfoliated two-dimensional layered materials comprising:

• providing a two-dimensional (2D) layered material;
• providing an inert solvent comprising chemical species that do not participate in any reactions during the synthesis;
• providing a primary mixture comprising a plurality of components including at least one of the inert solvent and at least one reactive component, the at least one reactive component including at least one of ozone (O3) and boron trihalogenide, the boron trihalogenide represented by BX1X2X3, where X1, X2, and/or X3 are selected from the group consisting of fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine;
• setting a temperature and pressure of the primary mixture, wherein the primary mixture is one of liquid and supercritical fluid at the set temperature and pressure;
• providing a secondary mixture comprising the two-dimensional layered material and the primary mixture, wherein the secondary mixture is configured to allow a chemical reaction between the 2D layered material and the at least one reactive component of the primary mixture;
• applying mechanical agitation to the secondary mixture promoting mixing of the primary mixture and dispersion and exfoliation of the 2D layered material;
• allowing time for the reaction to proceed based on a desired extent of functionalization and exfoliation of the 2D layered material;
• and
• isolating the functionalized and exfoliated 2D layered material from a reaction product.