Ultrathin 2D sheets of manganese telluride floating on water, reflecting a solar panel during sunrise.

Is Manganese Telluride the Next Big Thing in Renewable Energy? Unlocking 2D Potential

Lena Kashyap in Tech & Innovation September 2025 • 4 min read.

"Scientists are exploring how ultrathin sheets of manganese telluride can revolutionize solar energy and photocatalysis, potentially making clean energy more accessible and efficient."

In the quest for sustainable energy solutions, scientists are constantly exploring new materials and methods to harness the power of renewable resources. Among these cutting-edge materials, metal tellurides have emerged as promising candidates, particularly for their catalytic and magnetic properties. By confining these materials into two-dimensional (2D) sheets, researchers aim to enhance their surface area and, consequently, boost their catalytic activity and magnetic properties.

A recent study has shed light on the isolation of ultrathin 2D sheets of manganese(II) telluride, a non-layered material, using liquid exfoliation techniques. This innovative approach has allowed scientists to create sheets with an average thickness of approximately 2 nanometers and a flake size of around 100 nanometers. The unique properties of these 2D manganese telluride sheets open up new possibilities for various applications, especially in the realm of renewable energy.

One of the most intriguing applications of these 2D manganese telluride sheets is their use in sensitizing titania nanotubes. By integrating these materials, researchers can broaden the absorption spectrum of the nanotubes and harness visible light for photoelectrochemical water splitting—a process that could revolutionize the way we produce clean energy. This article delves into the properties, synthesis, and potential applications of 2D manganese telluride, offering insights into how this material could contribute to a more sustainable future.

What Makes Manganese Telluride Special?

Ultrathin 2D sheets of manganese telluride floating on water, reflecting a solar panel during sunrise.

Manganese telluride (MnTe) stands out in the family of transition metal-based binary compounds due to its unique semiconducting behavior. Unlike many of its counterparts, which exhibit metallic properties, MnTe behaves as a semiconductor, making it particularly interesting for electronic and optical applications. Its band structure, which falls between that of charge transfer and band insulators, gives it a special place in the landscape of electronic materials.

Historically, MnTe has been studied for its thermal and magnetic properties since the 19th century. It wasn't until 1963 that its antiferromagnetic properties were definitively established through neutron diffraction studies. This magnetic characteristic, combined with its semiconducting nature, makes MnTe a versatile material with potential applications in spintronics and energy conversion.

Unique Semiconducting Behavior: MnTe is a semiconductor, unlike many other metal tellurides.
Antiferromagnetic Properties: Established in 1963, contributing to its spintronic potential.
Versatile Applications: Suitable for both spintronics and energy conversion technologies.

Recent research has focused on harnessing these properties by creating 2D sheets of MnTe. The process of liquid exfoliation allows scientists to peel off ultrathin layers, which exhibit enhanced surface area and novel quantum properties. These 2D sheets can then be used in various applications, such as enhancing the efficiency of solar cells and improving photocatalytic water splitting.

The Future of Clean Energy with 2D Manganese Telluride

The exploration of 2D manganese telluride represents a significant step forward in the pursuit of sustainable energy solutions. By successfully exfoliating MnTe into ultrathin sheets and demonstrating its potential in enhancing photocatalytic water splitting, researchers have opened up new avenues for clean energy technologies. As the field continues to evolve, we can anticipate further advancements that harness the unique properties of 2D materials to address the world's growing energy demands.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1021/acsanm.8b01642, Alternate LINK

Title: Magnetic Properties And Photocatalytic Applications Of 2D Sheets Of Nonlayered Manganese Telluride By Liquid Exfoliation

Subject: General Materials Science

Journal: ACS Applied Nano Materials

Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)

Authors: Aravind Puthirath Balan, Sruthi Radhakrishnan, Ram Neupane, Sadegh Yazdi, Liangzi Deng, Carlos A. De Los Reyes, Amey Apte, Anand B. Puthirath, B. Manmadha Rao, Maggie Paulose, Robert Vajtai, Ching-Wu Chu, Angel A. Martí, Oomman K Varghese, Chandra Sekhar Tiwary, M. R. Anantharaman, Pulickel M Ajayan

Published: 2018-10-15

Everything You Need To Know

What makes manganese telluride (MnTe) stand out compared to other metal tellurides?

Manganese telluride, or MnTe, is unique because it behaves as a semiconductor, unlike many other metal tellurides that exhibit metallic properties. This semiconducting behavior, combined with its antiferromagnetic properties discovered in 1963, makes it suitable for both spintronics and energy conversion technologies.

How are researchers creating these ultrathin 2D sheets of manganese telluride, and what are their dimensions?

Researchers are creating ultrathin 2D sheets of manganese telluride using liquid exfoliation techniques. This process involves peeling off ultrathin layers of the material, which significantly enhances its surface area and exposes novel quantum properties. These 2D sheets are approximately 2 nanometers thick with a flake size of around 100 nanometers, optimizing them for various applications.

In what specific application is 2D manganese telluride being used to enhance clean energy production?

2D manganese telluride sheets are being integrated to sensitize titania nanotubes. This integration broadens the absorption spectrum of the nanotubes, allowing them to harness visible light more effectively for photoelectrochemical water splitting. This process has the potential to revolutionize clean energy production by making it more efficient.

Does manganese telluride have applications beyond energy conversion, and what are their implications?

While the study focuses on the application of 2D manganese telluride in enhancing photocatalytic water splitting and solar energy conversion, its potential in spintronics is significant due to its antiferromagnetic properties. However, the specific spintronic applications and research in that area related to these 2D sheets aren't detailed here, representing an area for further investigation. More research could explore how the unique quantum properties of 2D MnTe can be used in next-generation spintronic devices.

How significant is the exploration of 2D manganese telluride in the broader context of sustainable energy, and what future advancements can we anticipate?

The exploration of 2D manganese telluride represents a significant advancement towards sustainable energy solutions. By creating ultrathin sheets of MnTe and demonstrating its potential to enhance photocatalytic water splitting, researchers are paving the way for new clean energy technologies. As this field evolves, further advancements are anticipated, harnessing the unique properties of 2D materials to meet the world's growing energy demands.