Nanosheets rolling‐up: The synthesis of MoO3–x‐based ultrathin nanosheets and their transformation into nanotubes, which is driven by the oxidation of MoV to MoVI, is reported. Tunable localized surface plasmon resonance can be achieved as the oxidation reaction proceeds gradually.

Ultrathin nanostructures exhibit many interesting properties which are absent or less-pronounced in traditional nanomaterials of larger sizes. In this work, we report the synthesis of ultrathin nanowires and nanoribbons of rare earth hydroxides and demonstrate some new phenomena caused by their atomic-level lateral size (1 nm), including ligand-induced gelation, self-assembly framework, and conformational diversity. These features are typically, although not exclusively, found in polymer solutions. The properties of the inorganic backbone and the emerging polymeric characteristics combined prove to be very promising in the design of new hybrid materials.

Ultrathin nanostructures possess the very essential features of nanomaterials, including quantum-confinement effects and unconventional reactivities, which are determined by the significant structure variations from the bulk material. More and more isolated reports on ultrathin nanostructures and various new phenomena have appeared in recent years but a comprehensive review on their typical features and future development has not followed. Here we aim to present a well-organized review which comments on the most important characteristics of non-carbon ultrathin nanostructures, in an attemp to reveal the underlying relationship between their reactivity, stability and transformation law, and their structures.

Uniform MoO3 single-walled nanotubes (SWNTs) have been successfully synthesized for the first time through a simple thiol-assisted hydrothermal method. TEM, HRTEM, EELS and XPS characterization showed that the as-obtained sample was composed of high purity SWNTs. We hope our endeavor could blaze a new path in the field of NT research, especially in the barely explored noncarbon SWNT areas.

Liquid metal forms a thin layer of oxide skin via exposure to oxygen and this layer could be exfoliated by mechanical delamination or gas-injection/solvent-dispersion. Although the room-temperature fabrication of two-dimensional (2D) oxide through gas-injection and water-dispersion has been successfully demonstrated, a synthetic protocol in nonaqueous solvent at elevated temperature still remains as a challenge. Herein we report the mass-production of amorphous 2D SnO x nanoflakes with Bi decoration from liquid Sn–Bi alloy and selected nonaqueous solvents. The functional groups of the solvents play a key role in determining the final morphology of the product and the hydroxyl-rich solvents exhibit the best control toward 2D SnO x . The different solvent-oxide interaction that facilitates this phase-transfer process is further discussed on the basis of DFT calculation. Finally, the as-obtained 2D SnO x is evaluated in electrocatalytic CO2 reduction with high faradaic efficiency (>90%) of formic acid and stable performance over 10 h.