Interconversion Between Nanoribbons and Nanospheres Mediated by Detachable “Invisibility Suit”

Abstract Taming the ultrathin nanomaterials with the desired stability and functionality is one of the challenges of chemistry and materials science. Developing a detachable smart “invisibility suit” may represent an attractive strategy for coping this dilemma. Here, a protection-deprotection strategy for ultrathin nanomaterials of hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (HOFs), by putting on and taking off a detachable “invisibility suit”, is reported. Upon wearing the “invisibility suit”, the ultrathin nanoribbons with highly crystallinity can fold into “sturdy” nanospheres, the latter featured with amorphous character, stimuli inertia, and excellent extreme condition resistance, achieving the challenge goal of “stealth”. Adding on, superior water affinity, sensitive selectivity, ultrahigh water adsorption capacity and promising energy-saving activation steps for the “stealth” nanospheres have been demonstrated, suggesting a promising candidate for the real-world application as effective dehydrator. More importantly, taking off the “invisibility suit” lead to release of the initial nanoribbons, which featuring the promising thermal and NIR light-triggered photoluminescence and photocatalytic. These results have provided an inter-conversion cycles between nanoribbon and nanospheres, which are expected to promote significantly the demand-oriented storage, transportation and practical application of ultrathin nanomaterials.