Advanced Exfoliation Strategies for Layered Double Hydroxides and Applications in Energy Conversion and Storage

Along with the increasing aggravation of energy and environmental problems, the demand and utilization of renewable energy have increased. The rational design of advanced functional materials serves as a critical point for the improvement of performance and the practical application in renewable energy devices. Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) with 2D layered structures are promising energy materials for their unique physical and chemical properties. Nevertheless, the applications are limited by the structure of stacking with irrational electronic structure, sluggish mass transfer, and low activity. The exfoliation of LDHs into single- or few-layered nanosheets appears to be a promising approach to overcome the above disadvantages. Herein, the recent progress on the development of exfoliation strategies for LDHs including liquid phase exfoliation, plasma-induced exfoliation, and other advanced exfoliation strategies is highlighted and the applications in energy conversion and storage are systematically introduced.