Photoinduced Charge Separation in a Colloidal System of Exfoliated Layered Semiconductor Controlled by Coexisting Aluminosilicate Clay

Mesoscopic Architectures Made of Electrically Charged Binary Colloidal Nanosheets in Aqueous System

Inorganic layered materials can be converted to colloidal liquid crystals through exfoliation into inorganic nanosheets, and binary nanosheet colloids exhibit rich phase behavior characterized by multiphase coexistence. In particular, niobate-clay binary nanosheet colloids are characterized by phase separation at a mesoscopic (∼several tens of micrometers) scale whereas they are apparently homogeneous at a macroscopic scale. Although the mesoscopic structure of the niobate-clay binary colloid is advantageous to realize unusual photochemical functions, the structure itself has not been clearly demonstrated in real space. The present study investigated the structure of niobate-clay binary nanosheet colloids in detail. Four clay nanosheets (hectorite, saponite, fluorohectorite, and tetrasilisic mica) with different lateral sizes were compared. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) indicated lamellar ordering of niobate nanosheets in the binary colloid. The basal spacing of the lamellar phase was reduced by increasing the concentration of clay nanosheets, indicating the compression of the liquid crystalline niobate phase by the isotropic clay phase. Scattering and fluorescence microscope observations using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) demonstrated the phase separation of niobate and clay nanosheets in real space. Niobate nanosheets assembled into domains of several tens of micrometers whereas clay nanosheets were located in voids between the niobate domains. The results clearly confirmed the spatial separation of two nanosheets and the phase separation at a mesoscopic scale. Distribution of clay nanosheets is dependent on the employed clay nanosheets; the nanosheets with large lateral length are more localized or assembled. This is in harmony with larger basal spacings of niobate lamellar phase for large clay particles. Although three-dimensional compression of the niobate phase by the coexisting clay phase was observed at low clay concentrations, the basal spacing of niobate phase was almost constant irrespective of niobate concentrations at high clay concentrations, which was ascribed to competition of compression by clay phase and restoring of the niobate phase.

Materials Nanoarchitectonics Using 2D Layered Materials: Recent Developments in the Intercalation Process

Layered inorganic solids as an attractive classification of 2D materials offer material diversity and a wide range of interesting properties. Layered inorganic solids provide an expandable 2D nanospace between each individual layer, the so called interlayer space, to accommodate/arrange guest species such as molecules, nanoparticles, and polymer chains and design unique nanoarchitectures, resulting in the production of intercalation compounds showing different properties in comparison to those of virgin layered materials and guest species. Layered inorganic solids can also be exfoliated to result in nanosheet production. Further ordering of exfoliated nanosheets is also possible via different methods and normally leads to creating soft materials presenting properties and applications different from that of relatively rigid intercalation compounds. Here, the latest studies and up-to-date developments on the possible techniques of designing novel types of materials using layered inorganic solids are specifically highlighted.

Kinetics of Interlayer Expansion of a Layered Silicate Driven by Caffeine Intercalation in the Water Phase Using Transmission X-ray Diffraction

The kinetics of caffeine uptake into the interlayer nanospace of silicate nanosheets modified with benzylammonium (BA) was evaluated by in situ monitoring the basal spacing in aqueous media using transmission X-ray diffraction. An interlayer spacing of 0.58 nm in water before caffeine uptake indicates a monomolecular layer of BA and a few water layers in each interlayer. The interlayer space expanded by 0.10 nm upon caffeine uptake (intercalation) and saturated even in the presence of excess caffeine. Time-course profiles of the interlayer spacing and the uptake amount after injection of caffeine into the water slurry were obtained. At the initial period, the plot for the basal spacing was located above that for the adsorbed amount, suggesting that the rate of the interlayer spacing change was faster than that to attain the adsorption equilibrium. A first-order kinetic simulation fitted to the profile also indicates that the basal spacing included a rapid expansion of 0.08 nm within a few minutes and a slow expansion of 0.02 nm over several hours. Regarding the slow component, the rate constant for the basal spacing was lower than that for the amount of caffeine adsorbed, meaning that a steady-state basal spacing is reached after the adsorption equilibrium.

Photoinduced electron transfer in layer-by-layer thin solid films containing cobalt oxide nanosheets, porphyrin, and methyl viologen

The well-known layer-by-layer (LbL) method can be used to prepare solid thin films with a controlled electron transfer direction by appropriately stacking metal oxide nanosheets and functional organic ions. In this study, we prepared thin solid films consisting of cobalt oxide nanosheets (CoNSs) as the electron transfer medium, α,β,γ,δ-tetrakis(1-methylpyridinium-4-yl)porphyrin (TMPyP) as the electron donor, and 1,1'-dimethyl-4,4'-bipyridinium or methyl viologen (MV) as the electron acceptor. We investigated the photoinduced electron transfer phenomenon in these films by irradiating them with 450 nm light. Irradiating the LbL thin solid films prepared with the CoNS/TMPyP/CoNS/MV/CoNS sequence under reduced pressure led to the production of a one-electron reduction compound of MV. Hence, photoinduced electron transfer from TMPyP to MV bound to CoNSs occurred in these LbL thin solid films. However, the conduction band of CoNSs, as determined by the photoabsorption spectral and photoelectrochemical measurements, was much higher than the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital level of TMPyP. Our findings indicate that the observed equipotential photoinduced electron transfer was caused by the metallic electron conductivity of CoNSs, which show a unique charge arrangement of Co³⁺ and Co⁴⁺. Moreover, it was also found that the observed photoinduced charge separation state has a longer life-time (>5 h) under the reduced conditions.

Controllable doping of nitrogen and tetravalent niobium affords yellow and black calcium niobate nanosheets for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Yellow (N-doped) and black (N-/Nb⁴⁺-codoped) [Ca₂Nb₃O₁₀]⁻ nanosheets with molecular thickness were fabricated by liquid exfoliation of selectively doped KCa₂Nb₃O₁₀ perovskite.

Efficient photoinduced charge accumulation in reduced graphene oxide coupled with titania nanosheets to show highly enhanced and persistent conductance

Tuning of the electrical properties of graphene via photoexcitation of a heteroassembled material has started to attract attention for electronic and optoelectronic applications. Actually photoinduced carrier doping from the hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) substrate greatly modulated the transport property of the top layer graphene, showing promising potential for this approach. However, for practical applications, the large scale production of this two-dimensional heterostructure is needed. Here, a superlattice film constructed from reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and photoactive titania nanosheets (Ti0.87O2(0.52-)) was employed as a channel to construct a field effect transistor (FET) device, and its UV light response on the electrical transport property was examined. The UV light illumination induced significant improvement of the electrical conductance by ∼7 times on the basis of simultaneous enhancements of the electron carrier concentration and its mobility in rGO. Furthermore, the polarity of the FET response changed from ambipolar to n-type unipolar. Such modulated properties persisted in vacuum even after the UV light was turned off. These interesting behaviors may be explained in terms of photomodulation effects from Ti0.87O2(0.52-) nanosheets. The photoexcited electrons in Ti0.87O2(0.52-) are injected into rGO to increase the electron carrier concentration as high as 7.6×10(13) cm(-2). On the other hand, the holes are likely trapped in the Ti0.87O2(0.52-) nanosheets. These photocarriers undergo reduction and oxidation of oxygen and water molecules adsorbed in the film, respectively, which act as carrier scattering centers, contributing to the enhancement of the carrier mobility. Since the film likely contains more water molecules than oxygen, upon extinction of UV light, a major portion of electrons (∼80% of the concentration at the UV off) survives in rGO, showing the highly enhanced conductance for days. This surpassing photomodulated FET response and its persistency observed in the present superlattice system of rGO/Ti0.87O2(0.52-) are noteworthy compared with previous studies such as the device with a heteroassembly of graphene/h-BN.

Multiphase coexistence and destabilization of liquid crystalline binary nanosheet colloids of titanate and clay

A plate-plate binary colloid system of photocatalytically active titanate and inert clay nanosheets shows macroscopically separated multiphase coexistence. Two liquid crystalline phases and one isotropic phase coexist at high titanate and low clay concentrations whereas the colloids are destabilized at high clay concentrations.

Recent advances in synthesis and applications of clay-based photocatalysts: a review

Clay-based photocatalysts with high adsorbability and special structures have attracted extensive attention because of their applications in environment and energy fields.

Photoinduced electron transfer between the anionic porphyrins and viologens in titania nanosheets and monodisperse mesoporous silica hybrid films

Photoinduced electron transfer between an anionic porphyrin derivative (tetrakis(p-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin; H(2)TCPP(4-)) and an electron accepting methyl viologen (MV(2+)) was investigated in two different nanoscale configurations, i.e., layered titania nanosheet (TNS) photocatalysts and ammonium-functionalized monodisperse mesoporous silica (AMMSS) particles. Cationic MV(2+) intercalated within the TNS interlayers while anionic H(2)TCPP(4-) was accommodated within AMMSS nanocavities to form (MV(2+)-TNS)/(H(2)TCPP(4-)-AMMSS) hybrid films. Upon irradiation with UV light and excitation of the TNS in the (MV(2+)-TNS)/(H(2)TCPP(4-)-AMMSS) hybrid films, the consumption of H(2)TCPP(4-) and the formation of a one-electron reduced MV(2+) (MV(+·)) were simultaneously observed. No consumption of H(2)TCPP(4-) was observed when an electrically insulating poly(styrene) (PS) was also introduced at the interface. These results suggest that photoinduced electron transfer occurred at the interface between the TNS and the AMMSS.

Liquid Crystalline Behavior and Related Properties of Colloidal Systems of Inorganic Oxide Nanosheets

Inorganic layered crystals exemplified by clay minerals can be exfoliated in solvents to form colloidal dispersions of extremely thin inorganic layers that are called nanosheets. The obtained “nanosheet colloids” form lyotropic liquid crystals because of the highly anisotropic shape of the nanosheets. This system is a rare example of liquid crystals consisting of inorganic crystalline mesogens. Nanosheet colloids of photocatalytically active semiconducting oxides can exhibit unusual photoresponses that are not observed for organic liquid crystals. This review summarizes experimental work on the phase behavior of the nanosheet colloids as well as photochemical reactions observed in the clay and semiconducting nanosheets system.