Structure of exfoliated titanate nanosheets determined by atomic pair distribution function analysis

Colloidal suspension of titanate nanosheets has been prepared by exfoliation of Cs-0.67-Ti1.83O4 through the intercalation of tetrabutylammonium (TBA). The atomic scale structure of the nanosheets has been determined using X-ray diffraction and the atomic pair distribution function (PDF) technique. The exfoliated titanate nanosheets have been found to be an irregular assembly of double layers of Ti-O-6 Octahedra accommodating water and TBA molecules in the interlayer space. The interlayer distances show a wide distribution ranging from 9 to at least 18 Angstrom. The separation between the titanate layers remains nearly the same in air-dried product of the colloidal suspension.