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.
Highlights
The last decade has seen tremendous developments in the “wet” colloid chemical synthesis of nanosized and nanostructured materials, which was inspired by “biomineralization and hierarchically organized self-assembly” [1]
Zirconia is chosen as the model oxide because we have recently developed a modified successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) technique to make pure or doped zirconia films [14] and a relevant film growth model [15]
Polymer-nanoclay multilayers with similar nanostructure were reproduced in our laboratory
Summary
The last decade has seen tremendous developments in the “wet” colloid chemical synthesis of nanosized and nanostructured materials, which was inspired by “biomineralization and hierarchically organized self-assembly” [1] This wet synthesis technique utilizes alternating layer-by-layer (LBL) deposition process, which is enhanced by electrostatic assembling or surface-mediated adsorption and reaction. It has several major advantages, such as relative ease of preparation, low cost, and high versatility. Inspired by the special mortar-brick nanostructure of nacre and its superior mechanical properties, hybrid multilayers consisting of alternating organic polymer and inorganic nanoclay layers have been made by an LBL deposition and assembly method [5, 6] This method was modified from a more general method for making polyelectrolyte multilayers where substrates are alternately dipped into polycation and polyanion solutions to form polyelectrolyte thin films [7]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
