Direct synthesis of hexagonal Mg(OH)(2) nanoplates from natural brucite without dissolution procedure

A facile, dissolution-free route to direct synthesis of hexagonal magnesium hydroxide nanoplates from natural brucite is reported. Stable brucite undergoes disaggregation into thin nanosheets and subsequent solid-solid transformation in the presence of p-toluene sulfonate, circumventing the threshold of size effect from bulk brucite to Mg(OH)(2) nanoplates.