Artificial Nacre‐like Bionanocomposite Films from the Self‐Assembly of Chitosan–Montmorillonite Hybrid Building Blocks

Abstract

Brick-and-mortar microstructures of artificial nacre-like chitosan–montmorillonite (MTM) bionanocomposite films can be readily fabricated by using chitosan–MTM hybrid nanosheets as building blocks (see picture). The fire-retardant nacre-like films have a higher mechanical performance (Young's modulus: 10 GPa, tensile strength: 100 MPa) than a film made by conventional methods.