Porous calcium niobate nanosheets prepared by an exfoliation–restacking route

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Abstract
The single phase layered perovskite-type niobate, KCa2Nb3O10 obtained by a solid-state reaction of the starting materials (K2CO3, CaCO3 and Nb2O5) at 1,200 °C. Then the H+-exchanged form (HCa2Nb3O10) was successfully exfoliated into colloidal porous single layers on the intercalating action of tetra (butyl) ammonium ion. The various characterization techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscope, N2 absorption-desorption and DRS UV/visible gave important information on the unusual structural features of the perovskite-related niobate nanosheets. XRD analysis of the exfoliated nanosheets showed unique profile with wide peaks that represented individual molecular aspects of the nanosheets. The BET isotherm of the exfoliated coiled nanosheets showed a sharp increase in the surface area by a factor of >30 in comparison to parent layered material, that is due to exfoliation and restacking process. The nanosheets in this study were also found to act as a semiconductor with a wide band gap that is due to the quantum size effect.

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