Preparation of lanthanide hydroxide nanosheets by exfoliation of layered lanthanide hydroxide

Lanthanide hydroxide nanosheets (Ln(OH)(3-x)) were prepared by exfoliation of layered lanthanide hydroxides intercalated with dodecy sulfate ions (Ln(OH)(3-x)DSx). The structures of the layered materials and the nanosheets were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transition electron microscopy (TEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The thicknesses of the Ln(OH)(3-x), nanosheets were about 1.4 nm. This thickness was smaller than the basal spacing of the parent Ln(OH)(3-x)DSx, indicating successful exfoliation of the layered lanthanide hydroxides to the Ln(OH)(3-x), nanosheets. The colloidal solutions of the Ln(OH)(3-x), nanosheets exhibited various emission spectra from visible to near-infrared were observed by the direct excitation of the lanthanide ion.