Significant improvements in thermal stability and fire resistance properties of polymer materials with nanofillers at low loadings hold tremendous promise for fire safety materials. In this study, a novel two dimensional (2D) graphene-like nanomaterial (VOP) was synthesized by a simple refluxing method and then modified with typical organic surfactants. Subsequently, the novel graphene-like nanomaterials were incorporated into polystyrene (PS) matrix for reducing fire hazards. The SEM and TEM images indicated that the VOP nanosheets were well dispersed throughout the matrix without obvious aggregates, leading to remarkable improvements of thermal stability and fire safety properties. With the loading of 1 wt% modified VOP, the T-5%, T-10%, T-50% and T-max values were increased by 15, 22, 29 and 33 degrees C, respectively. In addition, the presence of VOP nanosheets decreased the decomposition rate of PS and increased the amount of char residues. Furthermore, the peak heat release rate and total heat release of PS composites was decreased by 48.3% and 43.6%, respectively, compared to that of neat PS. The well dispersion, physical barrier effect and catalytic carbonization effect of VOP nanosheets were the main causations for the reduction of fire hazards. (C) 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.