A 2D zinc-organic network being easily exfoliated into isolated sheets

• A (6,3) network is featured with Zn2(COO)3 paddle-wheels.
• The layer structure can be easily exfoliated into isolated sheets in alkaline solution.
• The exclusion of water is crucial to the formation of the target compound.

A metal-organic aggregate, namely {Zn2Cl2(BBC)}n (BBC = 4,4′,4′′-(benzene-1,3,5-triyl-tris(benzene-4,1-diyl))tribenzoate) was obtained by solvothermal synthesis. Its structure is featured with the Zn2(COO)3 paddle-wheels with two chloride anions on axial positions and hexagonal pores in the layers. The exclusion of water in the precursor and the solvent plays a crucial role in the formation of target compound. This compound can be easily dissolved in alkaline solution and exfoliated into isolated sheets, which shows a novel way for the preparation of 2D materials.

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