Nanolamellar

Nanolamellar refers to materials that exhibit lamellar, or slab-like, layers with thicknesses on the nanometer scale. The lamellae may be crystalline, amorphous, or phase-separated regions, and the overall structure is defined by a periodic arrangement of alternating layers. This nanoscale layering often leads to properties that are anisotropic and distinct from bulk materials.

In polymers, nanolamellar structures commonly arise from block copolymer self-assembly or crystallization of semi-crystalline blocks. The resulting architecture consists of alternating layers with different chemical or mechanical characteristics, imparting improved mechanical strength, toughness, or barrier behavior. In inorganic and hybrid materials, nanolamellar architectures can form through layered growth, templating, or controlled deposition of different materials to create periodic multilayers.

Synthesis and fabrication methods include directed self-assembly of block copolymers, layer-by-layer deposition, chemical vapor deposition of alternating materials, and post-deposition treatments such as diffusion or etching to enhance lamellar organization. Techniques like transmission electron microscopy and X-ray scattering are commonly used to characterize layer thickness, spacing, and orientation.

Properties and potential applications: nanolamellar materials often display enhanced toughness by deflecting or arresting crack propagation at interfaces, and improved barrier properties due to the tortuous diffusion path created by multiple interfaces. They are explored for protective coatings, gas separation membranes, and energy storage or conversion components where controlled ion or electron transport is advantageous.

Challenges include achieving uniform nanoscale periodicity over large areas, ensuring interface compatibility, thermal and chemical stability, and scalable manufacturing.