Method for preparing metal oxide nanosheets

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to a method for preparing metal oxide nanosheets. In a preferred embodiment, graphene oxide (GO) or graphite oxide is employed as a template or structure directing agent for the formation of the metal oxide nanosheets, wherein the template is mixed with metal oxide precursor to form a metal oxide precursor-bonded template. Subsequently, the metal oxide precursor-bonded template is calcined to form the metal oxide nanosheets. The present invention also relates to a lithium-ion battery anode comprising the metal oxide nanosheets. In a further preferred embodiment, the battery anode may comprise a reduced template, which is reduced graphene oxide (rGO) or reduced graphite oxide.

1 .- 33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . Metal oxide nanosheets having a thickness in the range of 0.5 nm to 10 nm. 
     
     
         35 . The metal oxide nanosheets according to  claim 34 , wherein the metal oxide is a transition metal oxide or wherein the metal oxide nanosheets are doped binary oxide nanosheets or ternary oxide nanosheets. 
     
     
         36 . The metal oxide nanosheets according to  claim 34 , wherein said metal oxide nanosheets are mesoporous. 
     
     
         37 . The metal oxide nanosheets according to  claim 34 , wherein said metal oxide nanosheets are amorphous or crystalline. 
     
     
         38 . The metal oxide according to  claim 34 , wherein the metal oxide nanosheets have a crystallite size in the range of 3 nm to 100 nm or wherein the metal oxide nanosheets have a Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area in the range of 15 m 2 /g to 350 m 2 /g. 
     
     
         39 . A battery anode comprising metal oxide nanosheets comprising at least one transition metal, wherein the metal oxide nanosheets are binary oxide nanosheets, doped binary oxide nanosheets or ternary oxide nanosheets. 
     
     
         40 . The battery anode according to  claim 39 , wherein the metal oxide nanosheets have a thickness in the range of 0.5 nm to 10 nm. 
     
     
         41 . The battery anode according to  claim 39 , wherein the layered metal oxide further comprising a reduced template. 
     
     
         42 . The battery anode according to  claim 41 , wherein the reduced template is reduced graphene oxide (rGO) or reduced graphite oxide.