High-yield synthesis of ultrathin silica-based nanosheets and their superior catalytic activity in H2O2 decomposition.

Ultrathin silica-based nanosheets with a thickness of ∼1 nm are fabricated in a low-cost and high-yield system excluding alkali metal ions. Unlike the Na-zeolites with a long capillary and microporous structure, the ultrathin nanosheets exhibit highly effective surface and active sites. As a result, the 0.4 wt% Pt-loaded nanosheets exhibit superior catalytic activity in H(2)O(2) decomposition with an O(2) evolution rate of 342.5 mL g(-1) min(-1) in a clean aqueous system.