Layered nanocomposites fabricated using a continuous and scalable process achieve properties exceeding those of natural nacre, the result of stiffened matrix polymer chains confined between highly aligned nanosheets.
Biological materials, such as bones, teeth and mollusc shells, are well known for their excellent strength, modulus and toughness(1-3). Such properties are attributed to the elaborate layered microstructure of inorganic reinforcing nanofillers, especially two-dimensional nanosheets or nanoplatelets, within a ductile organic matrix(4-6). Inspired by these biological structures, several assembly strategies-including layer-by-layer(4,7,8), casting(9,10), vacuum filtration(11-13) and use of magnetic fields(14,15)-have been used to develop layered nanocomposites. However, how to produce ultrastrong layered nanocomposites in a universal, viable and scalable manner remains an open issue. Here we present a strategy to produce nanocomposites with highly ordered layered structures using shear-flow-induced alignment of two-dimensional nanosheets at an immiscible hydrogel/oil interface. For example, nanocomposites based on nanosheets of graphene oxide and clay exhibit a tensile strength of up to 1,215 +/- 80 megapascals and a Young'
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