title: Hybrid nanosheets of an inorganic-organic framework material: facile synthesis, structure, and elastic properties.
abstract: We report a new 2-D inorganic-organic framework material, MnDMS [Mn 2,2-dimethylsuccinate], featuring weakly bound hybrid layers in its bulk crystals that can be readily exfoliated into nanosheets via ultrasonication. The fully exfoliated hybrid nanosheets correspond to a unilamellar thickness of about 1 nm, while the partially exfoliated nanosheets (multilayer films) exhibit a typical thickness on the order of 10 nm. We used atomic force microscopy to characterize their surface topography and to map the variation of nanomechanical properties across the surface of the delaminated nanosheets. The morphology and crystallographic orientation of the exfoliated layers were further studied by transmission electron microscopy. Additionally, we investigated the elastic anisotropy underlying the bulk host material by means of single-crystal nanoindentation, from which the critical resolved shear stress (τ(crit)) needed for the micromechanical delamination of individual layers was determined to be relatively small (≲0.4 GPa).
authors: Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, University of Cambridge, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QZ, UK.
authors: Jin-Chong
authors: JC
authors: Tan
authors: Paul J
authors: PJ
authors: Saines
authors: Erica G
authors: EG
authors: Bithell
authors: Anthony K
authors: AK
authors: Cheetham
mesh_terms: D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D006244:Hardness; D007287:Inorganic Chemicals / Q000737:chemistry*; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D033081:Shear Strength; D013499:Surface Properties; D013718:Tensile Strength
chemical_list: D007287:Inorganic Chemicals; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D009930:Organic Chemicals