Intercalation Mechanisms and Hybridization of Kaolinite Materials
Summary
Kaolinite, a 1:1 layered aluminosilicate, offers a versatile platform for the insertion of organic and inorganic species between its hydroxyl-bearing layers. Intercalation proceeds via hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions that expand the basal spacing, enabling tailored functionalisation through guest‐host chemistry. Subsequent exfoliation or controlled scrolling of layers yields nanosheets and tubular nanoscrolls that exhibit enhanced surface area and edge reactivity. Hybridisation strategies integrate polymers, surfactants or metal ions into the interlayer galleries, driving the formation of inorganic–organic composites with improved mechanical stability, adsorption capacity and catalytic activity. Advances in synthetic protocols, from solvent‐displacement to mechanochemical and microwave‐assisted routes, have refined the control over layer expansion, guest arrangement and morphology. These developments underpin diverse applications in environmental remediation, energy storage, catalysis and nanocomposite engineering.
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Intercalation Mechanisms and Hybridization of Kaolinite Materials publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in intercalation mechanisms and hybridization of kaolinite materials across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Intercalation: The insertion of guest molecules or ions into the interlayer spaces of kaolinite.
Exfoliation: The delamination of layered kaolinite into individual or few-layer nanosheets.
Nanoscrolls: Tubular structures formed by the curling of exfoliated kaolinite layers.
Basal spacing: The distance between adjacent kaolinite layers, indicative of intercalation extent.
Hybridization: The chemical integration of organic and inorganic components within kaolinite frameworks.
Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS): An anionic surfactant commonly used to expand and functionalise kaolinite layers.
References
- On the Role of the Interlayer Interactions in Atomistic Simulations of Kaolinite Clay. Molecules (2024).
- Deposition of silver nanoparticles on nanoscroll-supported inorganic solid using incompletely rolled-up kaolinite. RSC Advances (2023).
- Intercalation and Exfoliation of Kaolinite with Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate. Minerals (2018).
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