Patent ID: 7556743

Claim:
A process for producing a layered organo-metal nanoparticle, comprising: providing a first phase comprising a plurality of liquid crystal monomers, the liquid crystal monomers each comprising an organic mesogen and a functional group, the liquid crystal monomers each having a long axis, the long axis having a first terminus and a second terminus, wherein the functional group is bonded to the first terminus; providing a second phase comprising a source of metal ions; placing a two-phase mixure of the plurality of liquid crystal monomers and the source of metal ions in a reaction vessel under reaction conditions sufficient to form a liquid crystal structure comprising the plurality of liquid crystal monomers; and reacting the metal ions and the functional group of the plurality of liquid crystal monomers to form a bond between the metal ions and the functional group of the plurality of liquid crystal monomers yielding a lamellar organo-metal nanoparticle.