A novel strategy is demonstrated to produce silicon nanosheets on a large scale through the simultaneous molten-salt-induced exfoliation and chemical reduction of natural clay. The thus-synthesized silicon nanosheets have a high surface area, are ultrathin (~5 nm), and contain mesoporous structures derived from the oxygen vacancies in the clay. These advantages make the nanosheets a highly suited photocatalyst with an exceptionally high activity (723 μmol H2 per h per g Si) for the generation of hydrogen from a water–methanol mixture.
- Jaegeon Ryu
- Youn Jeong Jang
- Soojin Park
