Water Exfoliation
Water Exfoliation - Related Videos
08:54
Synthesis and Exfoliation of Discotic Zirconium Phosphates to Obtain Colloidal Liquid Crystals
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Cited by 3 •
2016
A two dimensional model material of discotic zirconium phosphate was developed. The inorganic crystal with lamellar structure was synthesized by hydrothermal, reflux, and microwave-assisted methods. On exfoliation with organic molecules, layered crystals can be converted to monolayers, and nematic liquid crystal phase was formed at sufficient concentration of monolayers.
12:04
Exfoliation of Egyptian Blue and Han Blue, Two Alkali Earth Copper Silicate-based Pigments
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Cited by 33 •
2014
The preparation and exfoliation of CaCuSi4O10 and BaCuSi4O10 are described. Upon stirring in hot water, CaCuSi4O10 spontaneously exfoliates into monolayers, whereas BaCuSi4O10 requires ultrasonication in organic solvents. Near infrared (NIR) imaging illustrates the NIR emission properties of these materials, and aqueous dispersions of these nanomaterials are useful for solution processing.
10:41
Preparation of Liquid-exfoliated Transition Metal Dichalcogenide Nanosheets with Controlled Size and Thickness: A State of the Art Protocol
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Cited by 44 •
2016
A protocol for the liquid exfoliation of layered materials to nanosheets, their size selection and size measurement by microscopic and spectroscopic techniques is presented.
10:18
Exfoliation and Analysis of Large-area, Air-Sensitive Two-Dimensional Materials
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Cited by 8 •
2019
A method for exfoliating large thin flakes of air sensitive two-dimensional materials and safely transporting them for analysis outside of a glovebox is presented.
06:35
Implementation of a Hyperbolic Vortex Plasma Reactor for the Removal of Micropollutants in Water
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2025
This study presents the methodology for the generation of six different types of plasma discharges within a Hyperbolic Vortex Plasma Reactor for the degradation of micropollutants in water, including pharmaceuticals and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
FAQs
The applied energy from sonication, stirring, or high-shear mixing disrupts the forces holding adjacent layers together. In layered materials, those forces include interlayer van der Waals attractions. Once the mechanical input is sufficient, individual or thinner sheets can separate into the aqueous phase. This balance between applied force and layer-to-layer attraction determines whether exfoliation occurs.
Surface chemistry controls how readily newly separated layers remain dispersed. Oxidation can alter the layer surface, while added stabilizers can help prevent sheets from coming back together. This suppression of restacking matters because the useful product is not only separated material, but a stable aqueous dispersion that can be handled for later characterization or formulation.
Compared with a process that relies on organic solvents, a water-based route can reduce reliance on hazardous solvent systems. That difference is important when chemists seek dispersions suitable for formulation or want a route that may be scaled. Water therefore functions not merely as a carrier, but as the medium supporting a potentially more practical preparation of two-dimensional materials.
A material is processed in water, then exposed to a selected mechanical input such as sonication, stirring, or high-shear mixing. The resulting suspension contains thinner sheets or nanosheets, while surface chemistry, oxidation, or stabilizers may be used to limit restacking. The workflow therefore links physical separation with control over the stability of the resulting dispersion.
The approach supports preparation of graphene, graphene oxide, clay nanosheets, and other two-dimensional materials. These examples show that the method applies across more than one layered material type. In chemistry research, the resulting aqueous dispersions can serve as material samples for characterization or as ingredients in subsequent formulation work.
It connects interlayer interactions, mechanical processing, and surface chemistry in one preparation route. Chemists can examine how oxidation or stabilizers influence dispersion stability, then use the resulting sheets in characterization and formulation. The method also provides a context for developing aqueous, potentially scalable routes to functional nanomaterial dispersions.