Nanorafts - clay nanosheets decorated with magnetic nanoparticles*

Emerging field of 2D materials shifts nowdays towards preparation of metamaterials, combining efficiently functionality of 2D layers themselves with additional components such as nanocrystals, forming together multifunctional 2D material with complex properties². It has been shown that combination of 2D sheets with nanoparticles does not bring together just individual properties of both components³, but also affect behaviour of 2D sheets themselves⁴.

Functionalized 2D sheets can serve as basic bulding blocks for fabrication of larger structures targeting metamaterial with desired properties, for example via self-assembly, hence implementation of additional functionality directly into the 2D sheets is of high importance. 

We present here an efficient approach of decorating 2D clay nanosheets in liquid phase with magnetic nanoparticles from one side, based on functionalized iron oxide nanoparticles and high-aspect ratio sheets of insulating transparent synthetic clay, sodium fluorohectorite. Efficiency of the process is confirmed by several complementary characterization methods, including TGA, X-ray diffraction (SAXS/WAXS), spectroscopy (FTIR, UV-VIS). Particle layout on nanosheets is determined by microscopy techniques (SEM and AFM). Options of tuning particle density on nanosheets and particle geometrical arrangement in a view of possible applications will be discussed

1. Chem Rev. 2015, 115(7): 2483–2531.

2. Chem. Rev. 2017, 117 (9): 6225-6331.

3. Nano Lett.2012, 122:617-621

4. Progress in Materials Science 2017, 90: 75–127.