Title | Synthesis of nanostructured nanoclay-zirconia multilayers: a feasibility study |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2008 |
Authors | Chen H, Zhang G, Richardson K, Luo J |
Journal | Journal of Nanomaterials |
Volume | 2008 |
Type of Article | Research Article |
Other Numbers | Article ID 749508 |
Abstract | This paper reports the first effort to synthesize a new class of inorganic nanostructured materials consisting of alternating ultrathin layers of nanoclays and oxide ceramics. A novel solution-based layer-by-layer (LBL) deposition technique was developed to prepare multilayers of hydrated Zr cations and nanoclays. This LBL deposition technique is devised by integrating an electrostatic-mediated dip coating method for making nanoclay-polymer multilayers with a successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction method for making ultrathin oxide films. Nanostructured clay-zirconia multilayer composites formed through subsequent annealing. Characterization by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction confirmed that these films are uniform and crack-free, consist of no detectable impurities, and possess nanoscale-layered structure. The incorporation of nanoclays facilitates the electrostatic-mediated assembling of multilayers, enhances the structural integrity, and provides a generic framework to construct functionally graded materials. Potential applications are envisaged. |
URL | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2008/749508 |
DOI | 10.1155/2008/749508 |