Hydrophobic layered double hydroxide particles with a single layer structure have been successfully synthesised in a reverse microemulsion system; atomic force microscopy has proven a powerful tool for the study of these delicate nanoparticles.

Ordered ultrathin films of tris(1,10-phenanthroline-4,7-diphenylsulfonate)ruthenium(ii) anions and cationic layered double hydroxide monolayers have been fabricated by the layer-by-layer assembly technique and show well-defined polarized red luminescence.

CoFe/MgO nanocomposites have been prepared from single-source inorganic layered double hydroxide (LDH) precursors via a H(2) gas-phase reduction; the metal composition can be freely manipulated by tailoring the molecular composition of the LDH precursors.

Transparent heterogeneous ultrathin films of exfoliated layered double hydroxide (LDHs) nanosheets, fabricated alternately with polyanion, have been obtained via a layer-by-layer electrostatic self-assembly which yields a series of novel LDH films with potential multifunctionality.

Graphene nanosheets have been generated in the confined space of the two-dimensional galleries of a layered double hydroxide (LDH) and good control over the number of graphene layers can be achieved by adjusting the amounts of intercalated carbon source.