Synthesis of a novel quasi-two-dimensional hollow onion-like carbon nanomaterial under the nano-confined space of layered double hydroxides

Onion-like carbon nanomaterials (OLCNs), as a new type of zero-dimensional (0D) material, face the challenge of limited structural and morphological diversity. To control their morphology and explore their transformation from 0D to two-dimensional (2D) materials, we leveraged the confined supply of organic precursor within the interlayers and the 2D confinement effect of layered double hydroxides under hydrothermal conditions. A novel class of hollow quasi-2D OLCNs with customizable features was synthesized. The OLCNs possess tunable diameter (4-38 nm), height (0.36-6 nm), hollow core diameter (3.6-11.0 nm), outer shell thickness (2.8-6.2 nm), and fluorescence lifetime (2.24-4.97 ns). This work introduces an innovative approach for transitioning OLCNs from typically 0D to quasi-2D architectures, expanding their potential applications.