Imogolite and halloysite are naturally occurring aluminosilicate nanotube. Imogolite consists of a single-wall nanotube with a composition of (OH)3Al2O3SiOH with Al-OH and Si-OH groups distributed on the external and internal surfaces of the tube wall, respectively. In contrast, halloysite has a composition of Al2Si2O5(OH)4.nH2O and renders a multi-wall structure of rolling clay layers with Al-OH groups on the  face the lumen. In this study, we present the recent progress in surface functionalization of imogolite and halloysite and the preparation of novel polymer nanohybrids. Several approaches for dispersing imogolite into polymer matrices, including both of the hydrophobic and the hydrophilic polymers, were achieved. Also, imogolite was applied  hydrogel formation of biomacromolecules. Selective modification of halloysite nanotube's inner surface was demonstrated. Aqueous phosphonic acid was bind to alumina sites at the tube lumen and formed hydrophobic lumen. Surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP) was performed through the selectively adsorbed dopa-functionalized ATRP-initiator to prepare polymer brushes on the nanotube lumen.

Design and physicochemical characterization of novel (organic/inorganic) hybrids from natural aluminosilicate nanotubes

245th National Meeting (2013)

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