Application of Raman spectroscopy to probe fundamental properties of two-dimensional materials

Abstract Two-dimensional materials (2DMs), with remarkably electronic, optical, and mechanical properties, exhibit both high scientific interest and huge application potential. Raman spectroscopy has been proven to be a fast, convenient, and nondestructive technique to characterize the fundamental properties of 2DMs at both laboratory and mass-production scales. In this review, we discuss recent advances in application of Raman spectroscopy to 2DMs for probing their fundamental properties. First, we introduce Raman characterization on different types of 2DMs, phase transition triggered by defect, electrostatic doping and temperature, thickness-dependent intralayer and interlayer modes, and two-dimensional alloys with tunable compositions. The extensive capabilities of Raman spectroscopy in probing quantum phase transition are discussed, such as charge density wave and magnetic transition. Then, we discuss application of Raman spectroscopy to probe the moiré phonons, interfacial coupling and cross-dimensional electron–phonon coupling in van der Waals heterostructures (vdWHs). We hope that this review will be helpful to study the basic properties of 2DMs and vdWHs themselves and those present in the related devices by Raman spectroscopy.