Inorganic Nanosheets As Soft Materials

This chapter reviews the recent progress in fundamental aspects and applications of liquid crystalline colloidal nanosheets, which are regarded as new-type anisotropic soft materials with intriguing properties. First, the chemistry and applications of nanosheets and layered materials are briefly mentioned. Then, the theoretical aspects of colloidal nanosheets interacting through electric diffuse double layers are described based on the classical DLVO theory. The liquid crystal phase formation in nanosheet colloids is then highlighted: Typical phenomena, structural analyses by small angle scattering technique, and formulation by Onsager theory are described. Finally, applications of liquid crystalline nanosheet colloids for the synthesis of anisotropic composite materials by in situ polymerization and cultivation of cellulose-producing bacteria are described.