# Structure‐Property‐Application Correlations of Early Transition Metal Chalcogenides: A Dichalcogenide‐Centered Perspective

## TL;DR

This review explores how the structure and properties of early transition metal chalcogenides relate to their applications in electronics and energy technologies.

## Contribution

The paper provides a comprehensive dichalcogenide-centered perspective on ETM-based chalcogenides, linking their structure to functional performance.

## Key findings

- ETM-based chalcogenides show tunable electronic and catalytic properties through doping and strain engineering.
- Phase transitions and defects significantly influence the performance of these materials in devices and energy applications.
- The review highlights the potential of ETM-based chalcogenides for next-generation electronic and energy technologies.

## Abstract

Early transition metal (ETM)‐based chalcogenides constitute a diverse family of layered materials with tunable structural, electronic, and chemical properties. While this materials class includes dichalcogenides, sesquichalcogenides, and polychalcogenides, research efforts and technological applications have been predominantly concentrated on layered transition metal dichalcogenides. This review provides a dichalcogenide‐centered perspective on early transition metal chalcogenides, linking their crystal chemistry and structural polymorphism to functional performance. This review provides a detailed look at various types of ETM‐based chalcogenides, including disulfides, sesquichalcogenides, trichalcogenides, and polychalcogenides, along with their crystal structures and coordination geometries. The review also explains how properties can be modified through doping, intercalation, and strain engineering, and how phase transitions and defects influence their performance. Special attention is given to their use in 2D materials, phase‐change memory devices, and energy‐related applications. By summarizing key experimental findings and structural features, this review offers insight into how ETM‐based chalcogenides can be engineered for better functionality. The combination of their rich chemistry and practical tunability makes them promising materials for next‐generation electronic, catalytic, and energy technologies. Finally, key challenges related to scalability, phase control, interfacial engineering, and environmental impact are critically discussed, and future research is outlined to guide the rational development of next‐generation dichalcogenide‐based technologies.

ETM‐based chalcogenides exhibit rich structural diversity and tunable electronic and catalytic properties. This review critically summarizes structure–property–application relationships in ETM‐based chalcogenides, highlighting recent advances in electronic devices, electrocatalysis, and energy‐related applications, while outlining key challenges and future research directions.