Rapid solvothermal fabrication of hexaniobate nanoscrolls

A rapid solvothermal method for the fabrication of hexaniobate nanoscrolls in high-yield is reported. Surfactant-containing organic solutions of HxK4−xNb6O17 crystallites treated above 200 °C result in complete conversion to nanoscrolls in 6 h. Both simple nanoscroll structures (SNS) as well as intercalated nanoscrolls (INS) with various surfactants can be readily obtained. Nanoscrolls prepared by this route appear to be more rigid and symmetric compared to those made by standard aqueous methods. Further, on exchange of surface groups, nanoscrolls can be suspended in either hydrophobic or hydrophilic solvents. This approach is significant to bulk nanoscroll production and should be effective in the development of new composite materials.