Syntheses of layered hexaniobates intercalated with N'-alkyl-N-methyl-imidazolium (CH3(CH2)n-MIm+) were performed in aqueous or molten R-MImCl media, using variable alkyl chain lengths and R-MIm+/K+ molar ratios. X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal (TGA-DSC-MS) and elemental analysis data suggest that significant degree of intercalation occurs only in water and for the imidazolium alkyl chain with n=7. For the same R-MIm+/K+ ratio, the increase of the alkyl chain promotes a higher cation amount intercalated. Besides, it is observed an increase in the materials crystallinity. It is suggested that hydrophobic interactions are the driving forces for the imidazolium confinement between the niobate layers. Thermal stabilities of intercalated R-MIm+ cations (n=9) are above 190 �C, i.e., about 60 �C higher than the sample intercalated with hexadecyltrimethylammonium, an usual surfactant for layered inorganic materials organophilization. Highly thermal stable layered hybrids are required for production of nanocomposites with organic polymers by melting process.

New thermal stable organophilic layered hexaniobates based on N'-alkyl-N-methylimidazolium intercalation: Unexpected chain length dependency

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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