Formation of metal clusters in halloysite clay nanotubes

Abstract

We developed ceramic core-shell materials based on abundant halloysite clay nanotubes with enhanced heavy metal ions loading through Schiff base binding. These clay tubes are formed by rolling alumosilicate sheets and have diameter of c.50 nm, a lumen of 15 nm and length ~1 μm. This allowed for synthesis of metal nanoparticles at the selected position: (1) on the outer surface seeding 3–5 nm metal particles on the tubes; (2) inside the tube’s central lumen resulting in 10–12 nm diameter metal cores shelled with ceramic wall; and (3) smaller metal nanoparticles intercalated in the tube’s wall allowing up to 9 wt% of Ru, and Ag loading. These composite materials have high surface area providing a good support for catalytic nanoparticles, and can also be used for sorption of metal ions from aqueous solutions.

Development of Marine Antifouling Epoxy Coating Enhanced with Clay Nanotubes

“…Combination of silver nanoparticles with DCOIT loaded into an antifouling coating show synergetic effects against fouling [30]. Naturally excavated cheap halloysite nanotubes can be used as a container for DCOIT antifouling agent and serve as a template for Ag-particles formation preventing their undesirable aggregation [31][32][33][34].…”

Halloysite Nanotubes: Green Nanomaterial for Functional Organic‐Inorganic Nanohybrids

“…Addition of HNT into polymeric materials to improve the composite strength has been proposed . The applications of inexpensive HNT for water purification, as support for catalytic nanoparticles, and as nanoreactor or nanotemplate for material synthesis were also reported.…”

Halloysite nanotubes as support for metal-based catalysts

“…4). 66 In this way, it is also possible avoid metal aggregation. Ouyang et al reported the preparation of Ag NPs/HNTs composites under vacuum conditions.…”