Nanoplatelets of sodium hectorite showing aspect ratios of ≈20,000 and superior purity.

Applying a combination of melt synthesis followed by long-term annealing a fluorohectorite is obtained which is unique with respect to homogeneity, purity, and particle size. Counterintuitively, the hectorite undergoes a disorder-to-order transition upon swelling to the level of the bilayer hydrate. Alkylammonium-exchanged samples show at any chain length only a single basal spacing corroborating a nicely homogeneous layer charge density. Its intracrystalline reactivity improves greatly upon annealing, making it capable to spontaneously and completely disintegrate into single clay lamellae of 1 nm thickness. Realizing exceptional aspect ratios of around 20,000 upon delamination, this synthetic clay will offer unprecedented potential as functional filler in highly transparent nanocomposites with superior gas barrier and mechanical properties.

Synthesis and modification of a functionalized 3D open-framework structure with MIL-53 topology.

Aluminum aminoterephthalate Al(OH)[H(2)N-BDC] x 0.3 (H(2)N-H(2)BDC (denoted MIL-53-NH(2)(as)) was synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. The activation of the compound can be achieved in two steps. The treatment with DMF at 150 degrees C leads to Al(OH)[H(2)N-BDC] x 0.95 DMF (MIL-53-NH(2)(DMF)). In the second step, DMF is thermally removed at 130 degrees C. Upon cooling in air, the hydrated form Al(OH)[H(2)N-BDC] x 0.9 H(2)O (MIL-53-NH(2)(lt)) is obtained. The dehydration leads to a porous compound that exhibits hysteresis behavior in the N(2) sorption experiments. The MIL-53-NH(2)(lt) can be modified by postsynthetic functionalization using formic acid, and the corresponding amide Al(OH)[HC(O)N(H)-BDC] x H(2)O (MIL-53-NHCHO) is formed. All four phases were thoroughly characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, solid-state NMR and IR spectroscopy, and sorption measurements, as well as thermogravimetric and elemental analysis. Based on the refined lattice parameter similar breathing behavior of the framework as found in the unfunctionalized MIL-53 can be deduced. Solid-state NMR spectra unequivocally demonstrate the presence of the guest species, as well as the successful postsynthetic functionalization.