IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natcom/v16y2025i1d10.1038_s41467-025-56912-9.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Solvent-free fabrication of ultrathin two-dimensional metal oxides/sulfides in a fixed interlayer by geometric confinement

Author

Listed:
  • Weixue Wang

    (North China Electric Power University
    Northeast Electric Power University)

  • Yang Liu

    (North China Electric Power University)

  • Xinjie Du

    (North China Electric Power University)

  • Huihui Wang

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Yuejie Ai

    (North China Electric Power University)

  • Qianwei Liu

    (State Grid Electric Power Engineering Research Institute Co. Ltd)

  • Xiangke Wang

    (North China Electric Power University)

  • Zhe Chen

    (North China Electric Power University)

Abstract

Two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials display unique characteristics owing to their ultrahigh surface-to-volume ratio and quantum confinement effects. Nonetheless, seeking a versatile and facile method to rationally shape ultrathin 2D frameworks is still an appealing challenge. Herein, a series of ultrathin 2D metal oxide crystals (2D MOs), including 3d transition metals (Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zr, W), lanthanide (Ce) and nontransition metal (In, Sn, Bi) oxides, were created through a confined interlayer growth strategy in combination with melt infiltration, in which no complicated chemistry or sophisticated equipment was needed. The 2D oxides presented lamellar constructions with high crystallinity, and the thickness was strictly limited to ~ 1 nm. The crystallization process, including the Frank-van der Merwe mode and the Volmer-Weber mode, was described. The defects and distortions of 2D TiO2 reduced the optical band gap and improved the sunlight utilization efficiency, thus accelerating the photocatalytic activity. This method could be extended to the preparation of 2D polymetallic oxides, metal sulfides etc., which enables the development of versatile systems for ultrathin 2D frameworks, especially for nonlayered structures originally.

Suggested Citation

  • Weixue Wang & Yang Liu & Xinjie Du & Huihui Wang & Yuejie Ai & Qianwei Liu & Xiangke Wang & Zhe Chen, 2025. "Solvent-free fabrication of ultrathin two-dimensional metal oxides/sulfides in a fixed interlayer by geometric confinement," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-11, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-56912-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-56912-9
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-56912-9
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/s41467-025-56912-9?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Xiuhui Bai & Pengfei Hu & Ang Li & Youwei Zhang & Aowen Li & Guangjie Zhang & Yufeng Xue & Tianxing Jiang & Zezhou Wang & Hanke Cui & Jianxin Kang & Hewei Zhao & Lin Gu & Wu Zhou & Li-Min Liu & Xiaohu, 2024. "Publisher Correction: Nitrogen-doped amorphous monolayer carbon," Nature, Nature, vol. 634(8036), pages 16-16, October.
    2. Jiadong Zhou & Junhao Lin & Xiangwei Huang & Yao Zhou & Yu Chen & Juan Xia & Hong Wang & Yu Xie & Huimei Yu & Jincheng Lei & Di Wu & Fucai Liu & Qundong Fu & Qingsheng Zeng & Chuang-Han Hsu & Changli , 2018. "A library of atomically thin metal chalcogenides," Nature, Nature, vol. 556(7701), pages 355-359, April.
    3. Xu Xiao & Huaibing Song & Shizhe Lin & Ying Zhou & Xiaojun Zhan & Zhimi Hu & Qi Zhang & Jiyu Sun & Bo Yang & Tianqi Li & Liying Jiao & Jun Zhou & Jiang Tang & Yury Gogotsi, 2016. "Scalable salt-templated synthesis of two-dimensional transition metal oxides," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-8, September.
    4. Huizhen Zhang & Pengfei Sun & Xiaozhen Fei & Xuejiao Wu & Zongyi Huang & Wanfu Zhong & Qiaobin Gong & Yanping Zheng & Qinghong Zhang & Shunji Xie & Gang Fu & Ye Wang, 2024. "Unusual facet and co-catalyst effects in TiO2-based photocatalytic coupling of methane," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    5. Jacob Amontree & Xingzhou Yan & Christopher S. DiMarco & Pierre L. Levesque & Tehseen Adel & Jordan Pack & Madisen Holbrook & Christian Cupo & Zhiying Wang & Dihao Sun & Adam J. Biacchi & Charlezetta , 2024. "Reproducible graphene synthesis by oxygen-free chemical vapour deposition," Nature, Nature, vol. 630(8017), pages 636-642, June.
    6. Xiuhui Bai & Pengfei Hu & Ang Li & Youwei Zhang & Aowen Li & Guangjie Zhang & Yufeng Xue & Tianxing Jiang & Zezhou Wang & Hanke Cui & Jianxin Kang & Hewei Zhao & Lin Gu & Wu Zhou & Li-Min Liu & Xiaohu, 2024. "Nitrogen-doped amorphous monolayer carbon," Nature, Nature, vol. 634(8032), pages 80-84, October.
    7. Alexey Falin & Haifeng Lv & Eli Janzen & James H. Edgar & Rui Zhang & Dong Qian & Hwo-Shuenn Sheu & Qiran Cai & Wei Gan & Xiaojun Wu & Elton J. G. Santos & Lu Hua Li, 2023. "Anomalous isotope effect on mechanical properties of single atomic layer Boron Nitride," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
    8. Yang Wen & Kai He & Yujie Zhu & Fudong Han & Yunhua Xu & Isamu Matsuda & Yoshitaka Ishii & John Cumings & Chunsheng Wang, 2014. "Expanded graphite as superior anode for sodium-ion batteries," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 5(1), pages 1-10, September.
    9. Jing-Yang Chung & Yanwen Yuan & Tara P. Mishra & Chithralekha Joseph & Pieremanuele Canepa & Pranay Ranjan & El Hadi S. Sadki & Silvija Gradečak & Slaven Garaj, 2024. "Structure and exfoliation mechanism of two-dimensional boron nanosheets," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, December.
    10. Wa Gao & Shi Li & Huichao He & Xiaoning Li & Zhenxiang Cheng & Yong Yang & Jinlan Wang & Qing Shen & Xiaoyong Wang & Yujie Xiong & Yong Zhou & Zhigang Zou, 2021. "Vacancy-defect modulated pathway of photoreduction of CO2 on single atomically thin AgInP2S6 sheets into olefiant gas," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-8, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Shengyao Wang & Bo Jiang & Joel Henzie & Feiyan Xu & Chengyuan Liu & Xianguang Meng & Sirong Zou & Hui Song & Yang Pan & Hexing Li & Jiaguo Yu & Hao Chen & Jinhua Ye, 2023. "Designing reliable and accurate isotope-tracer experiments for CO2 photoreduction," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Zhongqiang Chen & Hongsong Qiu & Xinjuan Cheng & Jizhe Cui & Zuanming Jin & Da Tian & Xu Zhang & Kankan Xu & Ruxin Liu & Wei Niu & Liqi Zhou & Tianyu Qiu & Yequan Chen & Caihong Zhang & Xiaoxiang Xi &, 2024. "Defect-induced helicity dependent terahertz emission in Dirac semimetal PtTe2 thin films," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    3. Jiacheng Qi & Xu Huang & Xuezhang Xiao & Xinyi Zhang & Panpan Zhou & Shuoqing Zhang & Ruhong Li & Huaqin Kou & Fei Jiang & Yong Yao & Jiangfeng Song & Xingwen Feng & Yan Shi & Wenhua Luo & Lixin Chen, 2024. "Isotope engineering achieved by local coordination design in Ti-Pd co-doped ZrCo-based alloys," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    4. Bin Wang & Jack R. Fitzpatrick & Adam Brookfield & Alistair J. Fielding & Emily Reynolds & Jake Entwistle & Jincheng Tong & Ben F. Spencer & Sara Baldock & Katherine Hunter & Christopher M. Kavanagh &, 2024. "Electron paramagnetic resonance as a tool to determine the sodium charge storage mechanism of hard carbon," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-14, December.
    5. Malyan, Sandeep K. & Kumar, Smita S. & Fagodiya, Ram Kishor & Ghosh, Pooja & Kumar, Amit & Singh, Rajesh & Singh, Lakhveer, 2021. "Biochar for environmental sustainability in the energy-water-agroecosystem nexus," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    6. Biao Qin & Muhammad Zeeshan Saeed & Qiuqiu Li & Manli Zhu & Ya Feng & Ziqi Zhou & Jingzhi Fang & Mongur Hossain & Zucheng Zhang & Yucheng Zhou & Ying Huangfu & Rong Song & Jingmei Tang & Bailing Li & , 2023. "General low-temperature growth of two-dimensional nanosheets from layered and nonlayered materials," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    7. Saswati Sarmah & Lakhanlal & Biraj Kumar Kakati & Dhanapati Deka, 2023. "Recent advancement in rechargeable battery technologies," Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Energy and Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 12(2), March.
    8. Jakub Lach & Kamil Wróbel & Justyna Wróbel & Andrzej Czerwiński, 2021. "Applications of Carbon in Rechargeable Electrochemical Power Sources: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-29, May.
    9. Yan Shen & Chunjin Ren & Lirong Zheng & Xiaoyong Xu & Ran Long & Wenqing Zhang & Yong Yang & Yongcai Zhang & Yingfang Yao & Haoqiang Chi & Jinlan Wang & Qing Shen & Yujie Xiong & Zhigang Zou & Yong Zh, 2023. "Room-temperature photosynthesis of propane from CO2 with Cu single atoms on vacancy-rich TiO2," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
    10. Yecun Wu & Jingyang Wang & Yanbin Li & Jiawei Zhou & Bai Yang Wang & Ankun Yang & Lin-Wang Wang & Harold Y. Hwang & Yi Cui, 2022. "Observation of an intermediate state during lithium intercalation of twisted bilayer MoS2," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-8, December.
    11. Yonggang Zuo & Can Liu & Liping Ding & Ruixi Qiao & Jinpeng Tian & Chang Liu & Qinghe Wang & Guodong Xue & Yilong You & Quanlin Guo & Jinhuan Wang & Ying Fu & Kehai Liu & Xu Zhou & Hao Hong & Muhong W, 2022. "Robust growth of two-dimensional metal dichalcogenides and their alloys by active chalcogen monomer supply," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-7, December.
    12. Yilei Wu & Chang-Feng Wang & Ming-Gang Ju & Qiangqiang Jia & Qionghua Zhou & Shuaihua Lu & Xinying Gao & Yi Zhang & Jinlan Wang, 2024. "Universal machine learning aided synthesis approach of two-dimensional perovskites in a typical laboratory," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    13. Rui Wu & Jie Xu & Chuan-Lin Zhao & Xiao-Zhi Su & Xiao-Long Zhang & Ya-Rong Zheng & Feng-Yi Yang & Xu-Sheng Zheng & Jun-Fa Zhu & Jun Luo & Wei-Xue Li & Min-Rui Gao & Shu-Hong Yu, 2023. "Dopant triggered atomic configuration activates water splitting to hydrogen," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
    14. Ruiqing Cheng & Lei Yin & Yao Wen & Baoxing Zhai & Yuzheng Guo & Zhaofu Zhang & Weitu Liao & Wenqi Xiong & Hao Wang & Shengjun Yuan & Jian Jiang & Chuansheng Liu & Jun He, 2022. "Ultrathin ferrite nanosheets for room-temperature two-dimensional magnetic semiconductors," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    15. Wen Zhu & Yuesheng Wang & Dongqiang Liu & Vincent Gariépy & Catherine Gagnon & Ashok Vijh & Michel L. Trudeau & Karim Zaghib, 2018. "Application of Operando X-ray Diffractometry in Various Aspects of the Investigations of Lithium/Sodium-Ion Batteries," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-41, November.
    16. Xuezhen Feng & Renji Zheng & Caiyan Gao & Wenfei Wei & Jiangguli Peng & Ranhao Wang & Songhe Yang & Wensong Zou & Xiaoyong Wu & Yongfei Ji & Hong Chen, 2022. "Unlocking bimetallic active sites via a desalination strategy for photocatalytic reduction of atmospheric carbon dioxide," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    17. Seunguk Song & Aram Yoon & Jong-Kwon Ha & Jihoon Yang & Sora Jang & Chloe Leblanc & Jaewon Wang & Yeoseon Sim & Deep Jariwala & Seung Kyu Min & Zonghoon Lee & Soon-Yong Kwon, 2022. "Atomic transistors based on seamless lateral metal-semiconductor junctions with a sub-1-nm transfer length," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, December.
    18. Li, Yong & Yang, Jie & Song, Jian, 2017. "Design structure model and renewable energy technology for rechargeable battery towards greener and more sustainable electric vehicle," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 19-25.
    19. Lutao Li & Junjie Yao & Juntong Zhu & Yuan Chen & Chen Wang & Zhicheng Zhou & Guoxiang Zhao & Sihan Zhang & Ruonan Wang & Jiating Li & Xiangyi Wang & Zheng Lu & Lingbo Xiao & Qiang Zhang & Guifu Zou, 2023. "Colloid driven low supersaturation crystallization for atomically thin Bismuth halide perovskite," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-8, December.
    20. Wang, Caiwei & Cao, Liyun & Huang, Jianfeng & Li, Jiayin & Kajiyoshi, Koji, 2021. "Divergent thinking and its application in biomass carbon electrode preparation," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-56912-9. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.