A facile green synthesis of LDH nanosheets using sugar molecules

The exfoliation of LDH materials is highly favourable for the formation of single layer layered double hydroxides (LDH) nanosheets due to their unique chemical, thermal, optics, and biological properties. The green method for the exfoliation of layered double hydroxides (LDH) offers several advantages compared to the conventional methods because it is considered safe, cost-effective and eco-friendly. This report focuses on the exfoliation of layered double hydroxides (LDH) using sugar molecules as a green exfoliating agent without having to first pre-intercalate the layered material. The exfoliation of LDH is confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analyses. The structural information of the exfoliated LDH in three different phases is further studied using (XRD) to reveal the extent of the exfoliation process. We examined the crystalline phase of LDH in different stages of liquid exfoliation; suspension, semi-dry suspension and dried solid samples. XRD data shows one broad peak for the LDH exfoliated with sucrose, glucose, and lactose, which indicates the formation of LDH nanosheets. TEM images show ultrathin sheets of LDH and spherical-like particles. This work shows that LDH nanosheets can be obtained by using green biomolecules through simple synthetic methods.