Research in the Salguero group focuses on hybrid materials that
incorporate nanosheet components. Nanosheets are characterized
as well-defined nanomaterials that are one to several monolayers
thick and tens of micrometers in lateral dimensions. Examples of
nanosheets include graphene, graphite oxide, metal chalcogenides
(MoS2, NbSe2) particularly some transition metal oxides (NbWO6,
H2SrTa2O7, Ca2Nb3O10), hexagonal boron nitride, and lamellar
perovskites. Why nanosheets? Most importantly, nanosheets are
isolable and can be manipulated (and characterized) using
solution-based methods, which allows them to be assembled in a
controlled fashion. In addition, nanosheets are highly ordered
and can be thought of as two-dimensional crystals. They exhibit
excellent strength and stiffness properties, as well as high
thermal stability. Their high surface area maximizes the
interactions between adjoining nanosheets and lead to
interesting electronic and reactivity effects in mixed material
systems. Nanosheets are used as