Solvent-mediated probe ultrasonication (SM-PUS) approach for the effective synthesis of metal/metal oxide nanosheets under ambient conditions

Abstract

2D metal nanosheets have recently attracted significant attention in material science due to their unique physicochemical properties and broad potential applications. However, the synthesis of 2D metal nanosheets is very challenging and tricky owing to the high probability of many metals to form their oxidized forms and the very high reactivity of metal nanosheets. This study introduced a novel, simple, and reproducible approach to synthesize metal nanosheets via probe ultrasonication. The probability of oxidation is controlled to achieve successful synthesis. The synthesis approach was quite successful for Ni, Ru, and Pd, resulting in metal nanosheets with distinct characteristics. The as-synthesized Ru nanosheets displayed highly crystalline single-element lattice structures, while the 2D Ni nanosheets exhibited polycrystallinity with strong bluish-green fluorescence. Overall, this work presents a promising and environmentally friendly strategy for generating non-conventional 2D metal nanosheets, unlocking their potential in advanced material applications as effective fluorescent sensors or biosensors that can be widely applied in diverse fields in the near future.