Natural Sugar: A Green Assistance To Efficiently Exfoliate Inorganic Layered Nanomaterials.

ABSTRACT

We have demonstrated that natural sugars can efficiently exfoliate inorganic layered nanomaterials with direct stirring. The representative transition-metal dichalcogenides (MoS2 and WS2), transition-metal oxide (MoO3), and graphene were explored, and the formation of ultrathin nanosheets was verified. Glucose and MoS2 selected each other as the perfect partner with superior exfoliation and excellent properties. The obtained inorganic layered nanosheets possess favorable stability and dispersity, which renders it suitable for direct homogeneous liquid applications, such as catalytic activities and sensors. With a high-throughput and green process, the sugar-assisted method may offer new ideas for inorganic layered nanomaterials synthesis and applications in a more ecofriendly way.