A general chemical transformation route to two-dimensional mesoporous metal selenide nanomaterials by acidification of a ZnSe–amine lamellar hybrid at room temperature

Two-dimensional inorganic nanomaterials have drawn much attention due to their excellent properties and wide applications associated with unique 2D structures. However, an efficient and versatile chemical synthesis method using ambient conditions for 2D nanomaterials, especially with secondary structures (e.g. mesopores), has still not been reported. Herein, we report a versatile method to synthesize a family of ultrathin and mesoporous nanosheets of metal selenides based on a precursor so-called “red Se remaining Zn” (RSRZ). The principle of our synthesis is based on a template-assisted chemical transformation process via acidification of inorganic–organic hybrid ZnSe(DETA)(0.5) nanosheets (DETA: diethylenetriamine). An appropriate amount of acid was added into an aqueous dispersion of ZnSe(DETA)(0.5) nanosheets under air for activation. The acidification induced chemical transformation mechanism was studied by tracking the acidification process. This acid controlled reactivity of lamellar hybrids allows it to be possible to capture the highly reactive intermediates, which will provide a new platform for the synthesis of various mesoporous metal selenides.