Synthesis of a novel quasi-two-dimensional hollow onion-like carbon nanomaterials under the nano-confined space of layered double hydroxides

Abstract

Onion-like carbon nanomaterials (OLCNs), as a new type of zero-dimensional (0D) material face the challenge of limited structural and morphological diversity. To control their morphology and explore their transformation from 0D to two-dimensional (2D) materials, we leveraged the confined supply of organic precursor within the interlayers and the 2D confinement effect of layered double hydroxides under hydrothermal conditions. A novel class of hollow quasi-2D OLCNs with customizable features was synthesized. The OLCNs possess tunable diameter (4–38 nm), height (0.36–6 nm), hollow core diameter (3.6–11.0 nm), outer shell thickness (2.8–6.2 nm), and fluorescence lifetime (2.24–4.97 ns). This work introduces an innovative approach for transitioning OLCNs from typically 0D to quasi-2D architectures, expanding their potential applications.