2D monoelemental group 14 materials beyond graphene, such as silicene and germanene, have recently gained a lot of attention. Covalent functionalization of group 14 layered materials can lead to significant tuning of their properties. While optical and electronic properties of germanene, silicene, and their derivatives have been studied in detail previously, there is no information on their electrochemistry and toxicity. Herein, electrochemical applications of 2D siloxene, germanane, and methylgermanane, specifically for detection of an important biomarker, dopamine, as well as catalyzation of oxygen reduction and hydrogen evolution reactions, which are important in energy applications, are explored. Among the three materials, germanane portrays most superior properties for the electrochemical applications mentioned. All three materials possess fast heterogeneous electron transfer rates, relative to bare glassy carbon electrodes. In addition, toxicity studies of these materials are conducted to gain insights on their possible harmful effects toward human health. The results of this study show siloxene nontoxic while germanane and methylgermanane impose dose‐dependent toxicity. Interestingly, methylation successfully reduce the toxicity of methylgermanane at lower concentrations. These studies provide fundamental insights into electrochemical and toxic properties of functionalized group 14 layered materials for future electrochemical applications.

中文翻译：

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硅氧烷，锗烷和甲基锗烷：用于电化学应用的第14组的功能化2D材料

石墨烯以外的2D单元素第14组材料，例如硅烯和锗烯，最近引起了广泛关注。第14组层状材料的共价官能化可导致其性能的显着调整。虽然先前已对锗烯，硅烯及其衍生物的光学和电子性质进行了详细研究，但尚无有关其电化学和毒性的信息。在此，探索了2D硅氧烷，锗烷和甲基锗烷的电化学应用，特别是对于重要的生物标志物多巴胺的检测以及在能量应用中很重要的催化氧还原反应和析氢反应。在这三种材料中，锗烷具有上述电化学应用中最优异的性能。相对于裸露的玻璃碳电极，这三种材料均具有快速的异质电子传输速率。此外，对这些材料进行了毒性研究，以了解它们对人体健康可能产生的有害影响。这项研究的结果表明，硅氧烷没有毒性，而锗烷和甲基锗烷则具有剂量依赖性的毒性。有趣的是，甲基化可在较低浓度下成功降低甲基锗烷的毒性。这些研究为功能化的第14组层状材料的电化学和毒性特性提供了基础见解，可用于未来的电化学应用。这项研究的结果表明，硅氧烷没有毒性，而锗烷和甲基锗烷则具有剂量依赖性的毒性。有趣的是，甲基化可在较低浓度下成功降低甲基锗烷的毒性。这些研究为功能化的第14组层状材料的电化学和毒性特性提供了基础见解，可用于未来的电化学应用。这项研究的结果表明，硅氧烷没有毒性，而锗烷和甲基锗烷则具有剂量依赖性的毒性。有趣的是，甲基化可在较低浓度下成功降低甲基锗烷的毒性。这些研究为功能化的第14组层状材料的电化学和毒性特性提供了基础见解，可用于未来的电化学应用。