singlelayered

Singlelayered is an adjective used in science to describe an object that consists of a single layer, rather than multiple layers. The term is used across disciplines, including biology, materials science, and coatings, to emphasize a continuous sheet of material or tissue with uniform thickness.

In biology, singlelayered often refers to epithelia composed of a single cell layer, known as simple epithelia, such as simple squamous, simple cuboidal, and simple columnar epithelia. These tissues facilitate diffusion, absorption, or secretion due to their flat or uniform arrangement and lack of multiple cell layers.

In materials science, the term describes two-dimensional materials that have thickness of about one atom or a few atoms, such as graphene, molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), or hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN). Monolayers exhibit properties distinct from their bulk counterparts, including high in-plane strength, exceptional electrical conductivity or transparency, and unusual optical characteristics.

Fabrication methods include mechanical exfoliation, chemical vapor deposition, and epitaxial growth to produce clean monolayers. Characterization methods such as atomic force microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy verify single-layer thickness. Applications span flexible electronics, sensors, catalysis, and membranes where minimal thickness is advantageous.

In coatings and membranes, singlelayered systems may offer low weight and high permeability but can pose challenges in stability, adhesion, and defect control. The term “singlelayered” is often superseded by “monolayer” in published literature, but both convey the same core idea: a complete, single sheet.