Methods and Applications for Delamination of Layered Double Hydroxides

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) are a class of layered inorganic materials that consist of structurally positively charged layers and exchangeable anions in the interlayer gallery for charge balance. The delamination of LDHs has attracted much attention in the last decade because it is an effective way for exposing the inner surfaces of the host layers. Delaminated nanosheets may be referred to as “macromolecules”, and they have opened nanostructures. They can be used as an ideal model system and as building blocks for various multilayer ultrathin films and functional nanocomposites. In this article, we outline the progress made regarding the delamination of LDHs and pose future challenges.