The emergence of red fluorescence from two-dimensional nitrogenated-stanene oxide nanosheets

The instigation of fluorescence in 2D metal oxide nanosheets is a daunting task to achieve. In the present work, we have synthesized bright red fluorescent stanene oxide (rSt_NS nanosheets) using an exceptionally simple method. Tin(ii) chloride added to a complex solvent (non-aqueous solution) of acetone and acetonitrile was sonicated and incubated at ambient temperature for ∼six days. After three days (72 h), the solution turned light yellow with bright red fluorescence; this is possible due to interactions between Sn and nitrogen atoms in a nanoscale environment. The emission from rSt_NS nanosheets (λ_ex = 370 nm) covered a broad range of the optical spectrum (with a prominent peak at 590 nm). Interestingly, after day five, the colour of the solution became darker, and the colour of fluorescence changed from red to green (gSt_NS nanosheets).