The steric effect of exfoliation agent for fabrication of layer niobium oxide nanosheet

Abstract In this research, the steric effect of an exfoliation agent between n ‐ethylamine and triethylamine for the fabrication of Ca 2 Nb 3 O 10 − nanosheet was investigated. The experimental results revealed that the different structures of the exfoliation agent have affected to fabrication of Ca 2 Nb 3 O 10 − nanosheet. The use of n ‐ethylamine as an exfoliation agent gave a maximum exfoliation efficiency of 10 wt.% while the maximum exfoliation efficiency of triethylamine was 90 wt.%. The result showed that the difference in exfoliation efficiency was caused by the steric effect of exfoliation agents. The image of transmission electron microscopy exhibited Ca 2 Nb 3 O 10 − nanosheets which were formed by exfoliation of HCa 2 Nb 3 O 10 . Furthermore, the reaction time for liquid exfoliation was studied in this work. The reaction time at 4 h gave a maximum of exfoliation efficiency. The Ca 2 Nb 3 O 10 − suspension was tested capability to remove hazardous ions. After the experiment, we found the white precipitate which was the formation of CsCa 2 Nb 3 O 10 . The result showed that the Ca 2 Nb 3 O 10 − nanosheet was efficient for the removal of Cs + ions in the wastewater.