Two-dimensional (2D) materials, such as hexagonal boron nitride (hBN), transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) like MoS₂ and WSe₂, and graphene, exhibit a wide range of optical and electronic properties. These materials, along with their heterostructures, offer new opportunities for exploring novel optical phenomena due to their lack of traditional lattice mismatch issues. This review discusses the optical properties and applications of various 2D materials, methods to enhance their interaction with light, and the potential of black phosphorus (BP) as a bridge between graphene and TMDCs. 2D materials have unique properties, including natural surface passivation, strong light interaction, and wide electromagnetic spectrum coverage. Graphene, with its gapless nature, interacts with light from microwave to ultraviolet, but its metallic nature limits efficient light emission. In contrast, TMDCs are direct bandgap semiconductors with strong excitonic emission properties, making them suitable for near-infrared applications. They also exhibit valley-selective circular dichroism and valleytronics, a new field of optoelectronics. Black phosphorus, with a direct bandgap of around 0.3 eV in bulk form, can increase its bandgap to around 2 eV in a single layer, bridging the gap between graphene and TMDCs. The combination of these materials and methods to enhance light-matter interaction, such as photonic integration and polaritonic resonances, offers potential for scientific discoveries and nanophotonic technologies across a wide electromagnetic spectrum. Photonic integration with external structures and intrinsic polaritonic resonances can significantly enhance light-matter interaction. For example, graphene integrated with silicon waveguides can achieve high-speed photodetectors, while plasmon-polaritons in graphene enable highly confined light fields. Phonon-polaritons in hBN and plasmon-phonon polaritons formed by coupling graphene plasmons with hBN phonons offer new possibilities for optoelectronic devices. Black phosphorus, with its anisotropic properties, can be used in photonic devices and novel electronic devices. Its unique properties allow for the realization of devices such as ballistic transistors and polarization sensors. Heterostructures combining BP with TMDCs can be used for light emission, detection, and modulation. The review highlights the potential of 2D materials in nanophotonics, emphasizing the importance of enhancing light-matter interaction through various methods. The combination of different 2D materials and techniques offers a wide range of applications in optical sciences and technologies.Two-dimensional (2D) materials, such as hexagonal boron nitride (hBN), transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) like MoS₂ and WSe₂, and graphene, exhibit a wide range of optical and electronic properties. These materials, along with their heterostructures, offer new opportunities for exploring novel optical phenomena due to their lack of traditional lattice mismatch issues. This review discusses the optical properties and applications of various 2D materials, methods to enhance their interaction with light, and the potential of black phosphorus (BP) as a bridge between graphene and TMDCs. 2D materials have unique properties, including natural surface passivation, strong light interaction, and wide electromagnetic spectrum coverage. Graphene, with its gapless nature, interacts with light from microwave to ultraviolet, but its metallic nature limits efficient light emission. In contrast, TMDCs are direct bandgap semiconductors with strong excitonic emission properties, making them suitable for near-infrared applications. They also exhibit valley-selective circular dichroism and valleytronics, a new field of optoelectronics. Black phosphorus, with a direct bandgap of around 0.3 eV in bulk form, can increase its bandgap to around 2 eV in a single layer, bridging the gap between graphene and TMDCs. The combination of these materials and methods to enhance light-matter interaction, such as photonic integration and polaritonic resonances, offers potential for scientific discoveries and nanophotonic technologies across a wide electromagnetic spectrum. Photonic integration with external structures and intrinsic polaritonic resonances can significantly enhance light-matter interaction. For example, graphene integrated with silicon waveguides can achieve high-speed photodetectors, while plasmon-polaritons in graphene enable highly confined light fields. Phonon-polaritons in hBN and plasmon-phonon polaritons formed by coupling graphene plasmons with hBN phonons offer new possibilities for optoelectronic devices. Black phosphorus, with its anisotropic properties, can be used in photonic devices and novel electronic devices. Its unique properties allow for the realization of devices such as ballistic transistors and polarization sensors. Heterostructures combining BP with TMDCs can be used for light emission, detection, and modulation. The review highlights the potential of 2D materials in nanophotonics, emphasizing the importance of enhancing light-matter interaction through various methods. The combination of different 2D materials and techniques offers a wide range of applications in optical sciences and technologies.