I have posted several times on the topic of graphene. There is considerable interest in other two-dimensional (2D) materials. I would like to point out two recent papers.

S Butler, et al., ACS Nano, 2013, 7 (4), pp 2898–2926
“Progress, Challenges, and Opportunities in Two-Dimensional Materials Beyond Graphene”

This is a big review (29 pages, 340 references) with an experimental emphasis. It encompasses four major sections: known syntheses and preparation strategies, sample characterization techniques, bulk vs. single/few layer electronic behavior, and applications. It is quite readable by the non-specialist.

(The paper can be found on-line.)

S Lebègue, et al., Phys. Rev. X 3, 031002 (2013)
“Two-Dimensional Materials from Data Filtering and Ab Initio Calculations”

The emphasis of this theoretical paper is to identify previously unknown 2D materials which may have interesting properties. Running through a database of crystollographic structures, the authors select bulk materials according to their unit cell packing ratios and the gap between adjacent c-planes. The geometries of the corresponding single layer structures are optimized, driving the forces on the constituent atoms toward zero. As a last step, the band structure and density of states are determined for each candidate structure. This process resulted in 92 2D candidate compounds.

We noted some time ago that the properties of monolayer materials (graphene, molybdenum disulfide, etc.) would be quite susceptible to contamination. This is indeed the case, and the contamination sources may be quite surprising! Caillier et al. report that their graphene samples appear to be n-doped by contaminants emanating from the cold cathode pressure gauge in their system.