Montmorillonite−Poly(ethylene oxide) Nanocomposites: Interlayer Alkali Metal Behavior

Temperature dependent structure and dynamics in smectite interlayers: 23Na MAS NMR spectroscopy of Na-hectorite

²³Na MAS NMR spectroscopy of the smectite mineral hectorite acquired at temperatures from −120 °C to 40 °C in combination with the results from computational molecular dynamics (MD) simulations show the presence of complex dynamical processes in the interlayer galleries that depend significantly on their hydration state. The results indicate that site exchange occurs within individual interlayers that contain coexisting 1 and 2 water layer hydrates in different places. We suggest that the observed dynamical averaging may be due to motion of water volumes comparable to the dripplons recently proposed to occur in hydrated graphene interlayers (Yoshida et al. Nat. Commun., 2018, 9, 1496). Such motion would cause rippling of the T-O-T structure of the clay layers at frequencies greater than ∼25 kHz. For samples exposed to 0% relative humidity (R.H.), the ²³Na spectra show the presence of two Na⁺ sites (probably 6 and 9 coordinated by basal oxygen atoms) that do not undergo dynamical averaging at any temperature from −120 °C to 40 °C. For samples exposed to R.H.s from 29% to 100% the spectra show the presence of three hydrated Na⁺ sites that undergo dynamical averaging beginning at −60 °C. These sites have different numbers of H₂O molecules coordinating the Na⁺, and diffusion calculations indicate that they probably occur within the same individual interlayer. The average hydration state of Na⁺ increases with increasing R.H. and water content of the clay.

²³Na MAS NMR spectroscopy of the smectite mineral hectorite acquired at temperature from −120 °C to 40 °C shows the presence of complex dynamical processes in the interlayer galleries that depend significantly on their hydration state.

Tipping Point for Expansion of Layered Aluminosilicates in Weakly Polar Solvents: Supercritical CO2

Layered aluminosilicates play a dominant role in the mechanical and gas storage properties of the subsurface, are used in diverse industrial applications, and serve as model materials for understanding solvent-ion-support systems. Although expansion in the presence of H₂O is well-known to be systematically correlated with the hydration free energy of the interlayer cation, particularly in environments dominated by nonpolar solvents (i.e., CO₂), uptake into the interlayer is not well-understood. Using novel high-pressure capabilities, we investigated the interaction of dry supercritical CO₂ with Na-, NH₄-, and Cs-saturated montmorillonite, comparing results with predictions from molecular dynamics simulations. Despite the known trend in H₂O and that cation solvation energies in CO₂ suggest a stronger interaction with Na, both the NH₄- and Cs-clays readily absorbed CO₂ and expanded, while the Na-clay did not. The apparent inertness of the Na-clay was not due to kinetics, as experiments seeking a stable expanded state showed that none exists. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed a large endothermicity to CO₂ intercalation in the Na-clay but little or no energy barrier for the NH₄- and Cs-clays. Indeed, the combination of experiment and theory clearly demonstrate that CO₂ intercalation of Na-montmorillonite clays is prohibited in the absence of H₂O. Consequently, we have shown for the first time that in the presence of a low dielectric constant, gas swelling depends more on the strength of the interaction between the interlayer cation and aluminosilicate sheets and less on that with solvent. The finding suggests a distinct regime in layered aluminosilicate swelling behavior triggered by low solvent polarizability, with important implications in geomechanics, storage, and retention of volatile gases, and across industrial uses in gelling, decoloring, heterogeneous catalysis, and semipermeable reactive barriers.

Quasi-Solid Electrolytes for High Temperature Lithium Ion Batteries

Rechargeable batteries capable of operating at high temperatures have significant use in various targeted applications. Expanding the thermal stability of current lithium ion batteries requires replacing the electrolyte and separators with stable alternatives. Since solid-state electrolytes do not have a good electrode interface, we report here the development of a new class of quasi-solid-state electrolytes, which have the structural stability of a solid and the wettability of a liquid. Microflakes of clay particles drenched in a solution of lithiated room temperature ionic liquid forming a quasi-solid system has been demonstrated to have structural stability until 355 °C. With an ionic conductivity of ∼3.35 mS cm(-1), the composite electrolyte has been shown to deliver stable electrochemical performance at 120 °C, and a rechargeable lithium battery with Li4Ti5O12 electrode has been tested to deliver reliable capacity for over several cycles of charge-discharge.

Probing the local environment of hybrid materials designed from ionic liquids and synthetic clay by Raman spectroscopy

Hybrid organic-inorganic material containing Laponite clay and ionic liquids forming cations have been prepared and characterized by FT-Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and thermal analysis. The effect of varying the length of the alkyl side chain and conformations of cations has been investigated by using different ionic liquids based on piperidinium and imidazolium cations. The structure of the N,N-butyl-methyl-piperidinium cation and the assignment of its vibrational spectrum have been further elucidated by quantum chemistry calculations. The X-ray data indicate that the organic cations are intercalated parallel to the layers of the clay. Comparison of Raman spectra of pure ionic liquids with different anions and the resulting solid hybrid materials in which the organic cations have been intercalated into the clay characterizes the local environment experienced by the cations in the hybrid materials. The Raman spectra of hybrid materials suggest that the local environment of all confined cations, in spite of this diversity in properties, resembles the liquid state of ionic liquids with a relatively disordered structure.

Unusual catalytic effect of the two-dimensional molecular space with regular triphenylphosphine groups

A novel organic-inorganic hybrid 2D molecular space with regular triphenylphosphine groups (triphenylphosphineamidephenylsilica, PPh(3)APhS) was successfully synthesized through grafting triphenylphosphine groups in the 2D structure of layered aminophenylsilica dodecyl sulfate (APhTMS-DS), which was developed in our previous research, with regular ammonium groups. The 2D structures were kept after the grafting reaction of triphenylphosphine groups in PPh(3)APhS. The catalytic potentials of 2D molecular space with regular triphenylphosphine groups were investigated. An unusual catalytic effect was found in a carbon-phosphorus ylide reaction. The PPh(3)-catalyzed reaction of modified allylic compounds, including bromides and chlorides with tropone yielded a [3 + 6] annulation product. However, an unusual [8 + 3] cycloadduct was obtained in the reaction of modified allylic compounds, including bromides and chlorides with tropone catalyzed by PPh(3)APhS. Otherwise, the stable catalytic intermediate was successfully separated, and the reaction activity of the catalytic intermediate was confirmed in the reaction of modified allylic compounds with tropone catalyzed by PPh(3)APhS. This research is the first successful example of directly influencing catalytic reaction processes and product structures by utilizing the chemical and geometrical limits of 2D molecular spaces with regular catalyst molecules and affords a novel method for controlling catalytic reaction processes and catalyst design.

Investigation of catalytic characterization of two-dimensional molecular space with regular ammonium and pyridine groups

Novel two-dimensional molecular space with regular pyridine groups layered pyridine-4-amidepropylsilica (PAPS) and pyridine-4-amidephenylsilica (PAPhS) were successfully synthesized through grafting pyridine groups in the layer structure of two-dimensional molecular space with regular ammonium groups layered aminopropylsilica (ATMS-DS) and layered aminophenylsilica (APhTMS-DS). The two-dimensional structures were kept after grafting reaction of pyridine groups in PAPS and PAPhS. The catalytic potentials of two-dimensional molecular space with regular ammonium and pyridine groups were investigated. The catalytic capability of APhTMS-DS, PAPS, and PAPhS was confirmed through Knoevenagel condensation reactions. Knoevenagel condensation of aromatic aldehydes with malononitrile was not observed in the presence of ATMS-DS. Otherwise, the lower yield of Knoevenagel condensation of higher active 2-chlorobenzaldehyde with malononitrile in the presence of APhTMS-DS, PAPS, and PAPhS indicated the potential of the two-dimensional molecular space with regular catalyst molecules on influencing catalysis processes utilizing the chemical and geometrical limits.

Two-dimensional molecular space with regular molecular structure

A novel two-dimensional molecular space (layered carboxylpropylamidephenylsilica, CPAPhS) with regular carboxyl groups was successfully synthesized through grafting carboxyl groups in the structure of layered (aminophenyl)silica using butanedioic anhydride. The carboxyl groups regularly arranged in the layered CPAPhS can react with various organic molecules with amino and hydroxyl groups through formation of reactive intermediate with catalyzers, such as SOCl2. In this research, an example was used to prove the reaction properties of regular carboxyl groups in layered CPAPhS. The layered CPAPhS was reacted with SOCl2 to form layered acyl chloridepropylamidephenylsilica (ACPAPhS) and then reacted with n-butylamine and n-butyl alcohol to form layered n-butylamidepropylamidephenylsilica (BAPAPhS) and n-butylesterpropylamidephenylsilica (BEPAPhS) with regular molecular structures. Layered CPAPhS showed the potential as a starting material for formation of a series of novel two-dimensional molecular space with various regular molecular structures, and as a solid acceptor for chemical reagent with amino and hydroxyl groups for chemical processes.

A critical appraisal of polymer-clay nanocomposites

The surge of interest in and scientific publications on the structure and properties of nanocomposites has made it rather difficult for the novice to comprehend the physical structure of these new materials and the relationship between their properties and those of the conventional range of composite materials. Some of the questions that arise are: How should the reinforcement volume fraction be calculated? How can the clay gallery contents be assessed? How can the ratio of intercalate to exfoliate be found? Does polymerization occur in the clay galleries? How is the crystallinity of semi-crystalline polymers affected by intercalation? What role do the mobilities of adsorbed molecules and clay platelets have? How much information can conventional X-ray diffraction offer? What is the thermodynamic driving force for intercalation and exfoliation? What is the elastic modulus of clay platelets? The growth of computer simulation techniques applied to clay materials has been rapid, with insight gained into the structure, dynamics and reactivity of polymer-clay systems. However these techniques operate on the basis of approximations, which may not be clear to the non-specialist. This critical review attempts to assess these issues from the viewpoint of traditional composites thereby embedding these new materials in a wider context to which conventional composite theory can be applied. (210 references).

Reactive two-dimensional layered material with regular chlorine groups

A novel reactive layered two-dimensional molecular space material [layered chloroacetamide phenyl silica (CAAPhS)] with regular chlorine groups was synthesized by grafting chlorine groups into the layer structure of layered aminophenyl silica. The reactive activity of chlorine groups regularly arranged in the layer structure of layered CAAPhS was confirmed through a substitution reaction with n-butylamine. Layered CAAPhS showed potential as a starting material for the formation of a series of two-dimensional layered materials with various regular functional molecules and organic-inorganic composite materials.

Synthesis and characterization of ZnS-montmorillonite nanocomposites and their application for degrading eosin B

Nanocomposites of zinc sulfide (ZnS) and montmorillonite (MMT) were prepared via a hydrothermal route. In this method, the MMT treated with hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (HTAB) aqueous solution was dispersed in the aqueous solution of thiourea and Zn(OOCHCH(3))(2)2H(2)O, and heated at 170 degrees C for about 4 h, resulting in ZnS-MMT composites. The as-prepared nanocomposites were characterized with X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and nitrogen sorption analysis. It was demonstrated that the interlayer space of MMT was enlarged from 0.98 to 3.77 nm after the treatment with HTAB aqueous solution, and the ZnS nanoparticles were deposited on the layers of MMT. Nitrogen sorption analysis demonstrated that the specific surface area of the samples decreased from 39.2 m(2)/g of the pristine MMT to 5.9 m(2)/g of the final ZnS-MMT composites. The resulting ZnS-MMT nanocomposites (50.0 mg) could degrade eosin B completely in aqueous solution (75 ml, 3.2x10(-5) M) within 20 min under UV irradiation.

Motional heterogeneity of intercalated species in modified clays and poly(epsilon-caprolactone)/clay nanocomposites

Modified laponites and synthetic saponites are used as precursors for the preparation of poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL)/clay nanocomposites. The structure and dynamics of species intercalated in the modified clays and the corresponding nanocomposites are characterized by X-ray diffraction and magic-angle spinning NMR. The influence of the headgroup, the hydrocarbon chain length, and the loading of the surfactant on the nanocomposite formation are discussed. The yield of PCL intercalation is related to the probability of direct polymer-clay interactions and to the size of the clay platelets. Relaxation times in the laboratory and rotating frames that allow characterization of fast and slow molecular dynamics in these systems are discussed, showing a motional heterogeneity of the intercalated species.