Treatment of 2d-materials

A method for treating a 2D-material comprising the sequential steps of:

• a) providing a suspension of the 2D-material in water, wherein the 2D-material is selected from the group consisting of graphene, graphene oxide, reduced graphene oxide, phosphorene, layered double hydroxides, or transition metal dichalcogenides,
• b) optionally increasing the ionic strength and/or adjust pH of the suspension so that a flocculate forms, of the 2D-material, where after the formed flocculate is recovered, and where after the recovered flocculate is diluted with water and/or a solvent to form a suspension of the 2D-material in water,
• c) adding at least one selected from the group consisting of i) an emulsion of a first organic compound or ii) a second organic compound, to the suspension under conditions where the emulsion of the first organic compound is stable and/or the second organic compound is soluble in water or a water/solvent mixture, wherein the second organic compound under some conditions with respect to solvent/water ratio, ionic strength, pH and temperature, is soluble in water or a water/solvent mixture and wherein the second organic compound at other conditions with respect to solvent/water ratio, ionic strength, pH and temperature, forms a two phase system with water or the water/solvent mixture,
• d) changing at least one selected from the group consisting of a solvent/water ratio, ionic strength, pH or temperature to induce a destabilisation of the emulsion or phase separation so an organic phase forms with at least one selected form the first organic compound or the second organic compound, wherein the organic phase is rich in the 2D-material and so that an aqueous phase forms.