title: Transparent 'solution' of ultrathin magnesium hydroxide nanocrystals for flexible and transparent nanocomposite films.
abstract: Transparent solutions of nanocrystals exhibit many unique properties, and are thus attractive materials for numerous applications. However, the synthesis of transparent nanocrystal solutions of magnesium hydroxide (MH) with wide applications is yet to be realized. Here, we report a facile two-step process, which includes a direct reactive precipitation in alcohol phase instead of aqueous phase combined with a successive surface modification, to prepare transparent alcohol solutions containing lamellar MH nanocrystals with an average size of 52 nm and an ultrathin thickness of 1-2 nm, which is the thinnest MH nanoplatelet reported in the literatures. Further, highly flexible and transparent nanocomposite films are fabricated with a solution mixing method by adding the transparent MH nanocrystal solutions into PVB solution. Considering the simplicity of the fabrication process, high transparency and good flexibility, this MH/polymer nanocomposite film is promising for flame-resistant applications in plastic electronics and optical devices with high transparency, such as flexible displays, optical filters, and flexible solar cells.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Organic-Inorganic Composites, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jie-Xin
authors.initials: JX
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Xiao-Fei
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Cong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Hai-Kui
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: Jian-Feng
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Chen