Emerging 15-16 group Xenes: structures, properties, preparation methods, and their catalytic applications

Elemental two-dimensional (2D) materials, commonly referred to as Xenes, have attracted recent attention due to their many unique/remarkable chemical and physical properties. Xenes hold immense promise for multifarious applications across diverse domains, including optoelectronics, energy storage, energy conversion and biomedicine. Beyond graphene and phosphorene, a new cadre of Xenes has emerged, with particular attention directed toward antimonene, arsenene, tellurene and selenene. These nascent Xenes have garnered substantial interest due to their diverse allotropes, as well as their distinctive layer-dependent and modifiable properties, rendering them highly adaptable for engineering and catalytic applications. Herein, an overview is provided for the recent advancements in the structures, inherent properties and degradation behavior of Xenes, drawing upon both theoretical and experimental research. The synthesis methods of Xenes are summarized and primarily classified as bottom-up and top-down approaches. Furthermore, the catalytic potential of Xenes is elaborated, emphasizing both engineering strategies and theoretical understanding toward enhanced performance across a spectrum of catalytic reactions. Conclusively, a summary and perspectives on the future development of Xenes are given to boost their development. © 2025 The Royal Society of Chemistry.