Self-assembled Mg(OH)2 gels driving to MgO nanoribbons

Abstract

MgO nanoribbons were prepared by an innovative route from Mg(OH)₂ hydrogels. Such hydrogels were prepared without using any polymers or organic ligands as structuring agents, which is an advantage compared with the commonly used methods in this field. Furthermore, the as-prepared MgO ribbons stand out due to their ability to curl back on themselves under sonication forming spherical MgO nanoparticles. It is expected therefore that such MgO nanoribbons could be used to encapsulate drugs or molecules of interest when immersed in solution and subsequently submitted to ultrasonic stirring.