Tailored nano-electronics and photonics with two-dimensional materials at terahertz frequencies

The discovery of graphene and its fascinating capabilities has triggered an unprecedented interest in inorganic two-dimensional (2D) materials. van der Waals layered materials such as graphene, hexagonal boron nitride, transition metal dichalcogenides, and the more recently re-discovered black phosphorus (BP) indeed display an exceptional technological potential for engineering nano-electronic and nano-photonic devices and components "by design,"offering a unique platform for developing new devices with a variety of "ad hoc"properties. In this Perspective article, we provide a vision on the key transformative applications of 2D nanomaterials for the development of nanoelectronic, nanophotonic, optical, and plasmonic devices at terahertz frequencies, highlighting how the rich physical phenomena enabled by their unique band structure engineering can allow them to boost the vibrant field of quantum science and quantum technologies.