Synthesis of two-dimensional metallic silver using sodium beta-alumina crystal channels

Sodium beta-alumina (β-NaAl11017) crystals were grown within a gel containing Na2O and Al2O3. The glass–crystal composite was put through a Na+ ↔ Ag+ ion-exchange reaction. The ion-exchanged glass–crystal was then subjected to an electrodeposition process. Nanosheets of metallic silver were found to have grown within the β-NaAl11017 channels which usually contain the mobile sodium ions. The DC electrical resistance of the composites was caused due to charge transport in the two-dimensional crystal planes. The average silver layer thickness was ∼0.6 nm and the interlayer separation ∼1.13 nm.