Growth of millimeter-sized 2D metal iodide crystals induced by ion-specific preference at water-air interfaces.

ABSTRACT: Conventional liquid-phase methods lack precise control in synthesizing and processing materials with macroscopic sizes and atomic thicknesses. Water interfaces are ubiquitous and unique in catalyzing many chemical reactions. However, investigations on two-dimensional (2D) materials related to water interfaces remain limited. Here we report the growth of millimeter-sized 2D PbI₂ single crystals at the water-air interface. The growth mechanism is based on an inherent ion-specific preference, i.e. iodine and lead ions tend to remain at the water-air interface and in bulk water, respectively. The spontaneous accumulation and in-plane arrangement within the 2D crystal of iodide ions at the water-air interface leads to the unique crystallization of PbI₂ as well as other met

SUBMITTER: Zhong J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11014996 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature