Deriving the colloidal synthesis of crystalline nanosheets to create self-assembly monolayers of nanoclusters

The constructing of two-dimensional (2D) nanostructures by combining the colloidal synthesis of crystalline nanosheets and self-assembly strategy are summarized. Ultrasmall nanoclusters, the intermediates for synthesizing nanosheets, are highlighted to show the similarity of 2D crystallization and 2D self-assembly. The self-assembly strategy are powerful for preparing nanocluster monolayers with the thickness at atomic level.