Publication
Capturing functional two-dimensional nanosheets from sandwich-structure vermiculite for cancer theranostics
Publisher:
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date:
18-02-2021
DOI:
10.1038/S41467-021-21436-5
Abstract: Clay-based nanomaterials, especially 2:1 aluminosilicates such as vermiculite, biotite, and illite, have demonstrated great potential in various fields. However, their characteristic sandwiched structures and the lack of effective methods to exfoliate two-dimensional (2D) functional core layers (FCLs) greatly limit their future applications. Herein, we present a universal wet-chemical exfoliation method based on alkali etching that can intelligently “capture” the ultrathin and biocompatible FCLs (MgO and Fe 2 O 3 ) sandwiched between two identical tetrahedral layers (SiO 2 and Al 2 O 3 ) from vermiculite. Without the sandwich structures that shielded their active sites, the obtained FCL nanosheets (NSs) exhibit a tunable and appropriate electron band structure (with the bandgap decreased from 2.0 eV to 1.4 eV), a conductive band that increased from −0.4 eV to −0.6 eV, and excellent light response characteristics. The great properties of 2D FCL NSs endow them with exciting potential in erse applications including energy, photocatalysis, and biomedical engineering. This study specifically highlights their application in cancer theranostics as an ex le, potentially serving as a prelude to future extensive studies of 2D FCL NSs.