Extended Data Fig. 1: Characterization of synthetic hectorite.
From: Stiff and self-healing hydrogels by polymer entanglements in co-planar nanoconfinement
a, SEM image of hectorite nanosheets and their corresponding size distribution. Scale bar: 10 µm. Data are presented from 126 measurements. b, AFM image of hectorite nanosheets with a height of about 1.2 nm. c, SLS measurement of the size distribution of hectorite dispersion. d, Photos under polarized light of hectorite dispersions at different concentrations. The dispersions had a thickness of 5 mm, while the flow-oriented dispersion had a thickness of 0.5 mm. e, Stability of shear-oriented 1.5 wt% hectorite dispersion under polarized light with time. Dashed frames mark the position of the hectorite dispersion.
