Assembly of single layers: Three-dimensional assembly of single-layered MoS2 is achieved on a large scale via a solution method. The as-prepared tubular architectures have tunable size and mesopores in the shell, which are desirable for applications. As a example, they exhibit excellent lithium storage properties and are highly active for hydrodesulfurization of thiophene resulting from their structural advantages.

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.

Multidimensional nano-heterostructures (NHSs) that have unique dimensionality-dependent integrative and synergic effects are intriguing but still underdeveloped. Here, we report the first helical 1D/2D epitaxial NHS between CdS and ZnIn2S4. Experimental and theoretical studies reveal that the mismatches in lattice and dangling bonds between 1D and 2D units govern the growth procedure. The resulting well-defined interface induces the delocalized interface states, thus facilitate the charge transfer and enhance the performance in the photoelectrochemical cells. We foresee that the mechanistic insights gained and the electronic structures revealed would inspire the design of more complex 1D/2D NHSs with outstanding functionalities.

Biomacromolecules such as proteins, although extremely complex in microstructure, can crystallize into macro-sized crystals after self-adjusting their shapes, based on which the structure of biology is built. Inorganic nanowires/nanoribbons with a similar one-dimensional topology but much simpler structures can hardly be as flexible as macromolecules when constructing superlattice structures because of their inherent rigidity. Here we report the synthesis of crystalline indium sulfide nanoribbon-based nanocoils that are formed by spontaneous self-coiling of ultrathin nanoribbons. The nanostructures are flexible and appear as relatively random coils because of their ultrathin ribbon structures (~0.9 nm in thickness) with high aspect ratios. Moreover, the nanocoils can self-adjust their shapes and assemble into two-dimensional superlattices and three-dimensional supercrystals in solution. The ultrathin nanocoils are expected to bring new insights into the use of flexible nanocrystals as building blocks for constructing superstructures.

It is well-known that silica can be etched in alkaline media or in a unique hydrofluoric acid (HF) solution, which is widely used to prepare various kinds of hollow nanostructures (including silica hollow structures) via silica-templating methods. In our experiments, we found that stöber silica spheres could be etched in generic acidic media in a well-controlled way under hydrothermal conditions, forming well-defined hollow/rattle-type silica spheres. Furthermore, some salts such as NaCl and Na(2)SO(4) were found to be favorable for the formation of hollow/rattle-type silica spheres.