Aerogels are nanoporous solids used in electrochemical processes relevant to a number of applications including, catalysis, batteries, supercapacitors, and sensing due to their high internal surface, composition, and small pore/particle size. Two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials, such as graphene, boron nitride, transition metal dichalcogenides, also exhibit a range of distinct electronic and chemical properties, but are typically limited to thin films and coatings. Assembling 2D nanomaterials into monolithic aerogels expands their application space to include technologies and manufacturing processes that require a macroscopic 3D form factor. Furthermore, realizing the unique inherent qualities of 2D materials in a low-density, high surface area architecture creates new materials with novel properties and features only displayed within an aerogel framework. Here, we demonstrate recent work on assembling and tailoring various properties of aerogels made from several different 2D materials, (e.g. boron nitride, graphene, dichalcogenides, etc.). In particular, methods of controlling the composition via doping or hybrid aerogels (e.g. combining two or more layered materials), crystallinity, and macroscale architecture will be presented. The impact of those changes on aerogel properties and performance in energy storage and sensing devices will be discussed.

This work was performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under Contract DE-AC52-07NA27344.