Nanomaterials - 01

Abstract

Two-dimensional (2D) materials have gained significant attention due to their distinct properties, because they can be exfoliated and deposited to form thin films or composite structures.[1]  Among these materials, 2D zeolites stand out for their large surface area, chemical stability, and catalytic applications. However, exfoliating their parent layered zeolites has been notoriously challenging.[2]   We utilized a soft chemical process to exfoliate layered zeolites, such as MCM-56 (MWW) and bifer (FER) (Fig. 1A), under mild conditions and with high yields. These exfoliated zeolites were then deposited onto substrates such as ITO glass and silicon wafers using spin-coating (Fig. 1B), spontaneous spreading, and electrostatic adsorption techniques.[1]   The deposition yielded compact, thin, and uniform zeolite films (Fig. 1C), which would be impractical or difficult to produce using conventional hydrothermal synthesis. The resulting films demonstrated the thickness of a single zeolite nanosheet (2-3 nm) and a high degree of uniformity. This thin layer is promising not only for its catalytic applications but also for its chemical resistance, corrosion protection, and potential use as a low-dielectric insulator in electronic devices.