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Minerals
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Recent Advances in Clay-Based Nanocomposites
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Recent Advances in Clay-Based Nanocomposites

A special issue of Minerals (ISSN 2075-163X). This special issue belongs to the section "Clays and Engineered Mineral Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2022) | Viewed by 17994

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Luciana Sciascia

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Earth and Marine Sciences, University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 36, 90123 Palermo, Italy
Interests: clay; adsorption; wastewater treatments; drug delivery systems; isotherms
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nanoclay technology is an emerging field of applied sciences that encompasses the design, synthesis, and characterization of nanoscale clay-based composites and their applications.

In recent years, with the advancements in characterization techniques such as X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, spectroscopy, and other related instrumental analytic procedures, the field has witnessed significant improvements toward understanding the structure and chemistry of such nanomaterials.

In the light of these considerations, I would like to invite authors to contribute original research articles, as well as review articles, focused on the preparation and characterization of clays, clay minerals, and related materials and their application in different fields ranging from environmental to biomedical, pharmaceutical, conservation of cultural heritage, catalysis, etc.  Papers dealing with future innovative perspectives are strongly supported.

Aspects covered include adsorption and interfacial processes, colloid stability, surface chemistry, reactivity, synthesis protocols, characterization of the nanocomposites, mechanical, thermal, electrical properties, micro and nanophase materials, etc.

Prof. Dr. Luciana Sciascia
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Minerals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • clay
  • organoclay
  • nanocomposites
  • interfacial phenomena
  • adsorption
  • isotherms

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 6913 KiB  
Article
Incorporation of Zinc Hydroxide Sulphate (ZHS) Nanoplates into Epoxy Resin to Improve Its Corrosion Protection
by Fateme Aliahmadi, Davod Seifzadeh, Roghaye Samadianfard and Burak Dikici
Minerals 2023, 13(2), 180; https://doi.org/10.3390/min13020180 - 26 Jan 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2119
Abstract
Zinc hydroxide sulphate (ZHS) nanoplates were synthesized and then characterized by various methods, including field-emission electron microscopy (FESEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron microscopy (XPS), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), and the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) theory. Then, the synthesized ZHS nanoplates were incorporated into [...] Read more.
Zinc hydroxide sulphate (ZHS) nanoplates were synthesized and then characterized by various methods, including field-emission electron microscopy (FESEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron microscopy (XPS), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), and the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) theory. Then, the synthesized ZHS nanoplates were incorporated into the epoxy coating on a ST 37 steel alloy. No change in the morphology of the epoxy coating was observed after incorporating 1 wt. % ZHS nanoplates. Uniform distribution of the incorporated ZHS nanoplates inside the epoxy coating was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Atomic force microscopy (AFM) images showed that the surface roughness (Sa) of the neat epoxy coating was about 1.1 µm, which was increased to about 2.1 µm by the incorporation of the ZHS nanoplates. The water contact angle on the coating was changed from 82.1 to 90.8° after incorporating the ZHS nanoplates, which may be attributed to the surface roughness. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) experiments showed that the polarization resistance of the epoxy coating in a 3.5 wt. % NaCl solution after 28 days of immersion was about 2.03 MΩ cm2, and increased to about 9.47 MΩ cm2 after adding the ZHS nanoplates. In addition, the capacitance of the ZHS-containing epoxy coating after 28 days of immersion in the corrosive solution was about 0.07 nsnΩ−1cm−2. The obtained value was more than four times lower than the value obtained for the neat epoxy coating (0.32 nsnΩ−1cm−2). The results of the EIS measurements indicated a significant increase in the corrosion resistance of the epoxy coating after the addition of the ZHS nanoplates. The improvement in the corrosion was explained by the filling of the possible defects and trapping of the aggressive agents by the incorporated ZHS nanoplates. FESEM and EDS analyses at the end of the immersion period confirmed the results of the corrosion tests. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Clay-Based Nanocomposites)
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13 pages, 14798 KiB  
Article
Silica-Resin-Bentonite Nanocomposite and Its Application in Catalysis
by Federico M. Perez, Gerardo F. Santori, Francisco Pompeo and Nora N. Nichio
Minerals 2022, 12(12), 1486; https://doi.org/10.3390/min12121486 - 23 Nov 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2242
Abstract
Bentonites are natural clays found in abundance in deposits all over the planet and possess certain properties that make them interesting for various industrial applications. Through their activation or acid treatment, they can be used as catalysts in several reactions of interest. However, [...] Read more.
Bentonites are natural clays found in abundance in deposits all over the planet and possess certain properties that make them interesting for various industrial applications. Through their activation or acid treatment, they can be used as catalysts in several reactions of interest. However, these materials form colloidal suspensions in water or in aqueous solutions, which makes their separation and recovery difficult and prevents their implementation on an industrial scale. To overcome these limitations, in the present work, a silica-resin-bentonite composite material was synthesized and activated with HNO3. The activated solids were characterized and evaluated in the catalytic reaction of solketal synthesis from glycerol and acetone. The best results were obtained for a composite containing 47 wt.% acidified bentonite at 90 °C, with a HNO3 concentration of 0.5 mol L−1, which was attributed to both its acid site density—3.9 mmol per gram of bentonite—and the acidic strength of these sites. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Clay-Based Nanocomposites)
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18 pages, 4814 KiB  
Article
UV and Visible Light Induced Photodegradation of Reactive Red 198 Dye and Textile Factory Wastewater on Fe2O3/Bentonite/TiO2 Nanocomposite
by Shakiba Mohammadhosseini, Tariq J. Al-Musawi, Rosario Mireya Romero Parra, Mutaz Qutob, M. Abdulfadhil Gatea, Fatemeh Ganji and Davoud Balarak
Minerals 2022, 12(11), 1417; https://doi.org/10.3390/min12111417 - 8 Nov 2022
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3074
Abstract
In the present study, the objective was to probe the capacity of the Fe2O3/Bentonite/TiO2 (Fe2O3/B/TiO2) nanoparticles to act as a catalyst in degrading the reactive red 198 (RR198) dye and textile factory [...] Read more.
In the present study, the objective was to probe the capacity of the Fe2O3/Bentonite/TiO2 (Fe2O3/B/TiO2) nanoparticles to act as a catalyst in degrading the reactive red 198 (RR198) dye and textile factory wastewater, utilizing irradiation with visible and UV light. The efficiency of this degradation was studied for a variety of experimental parameters by employing real samples of textile wastewater. After 60 min of reaction time, complete degradation of the target pollutant was visible using the synthesized catalyst, i.e., Fe2O3/B/TiO2, under UV light; the same effect was noted after 90 min under visible light. Further, the ease of separation and quick collection of the synthesized Fe2O3/B/TiO2 can result in keeping the photocatalytic efficiency high, as well as raising the reusability. The photocatalytic processes under UV and visible light were found capable of converting the non-biodegradable textile wastewater into biodegradable one. Besides, with the introduction of Daphnia manga, the toxicity of the effluent was examined. Through photocatalysis, utilizing both techniques, the dye toxicity in the solution was fully neutralized, and the intensity of toxicity of the textile effluent was lowered by around 70%. The conclusion drawn in this study showed that the synthesized catalyst displayed good efficiency in removing organic compounds from the textile effluents by both photocatalytic processes using UV and visible light. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Clay-Based Nanocomposites)
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10 pages, 1641 KiB  
Article
In Situ FIB-TEM-TOF-SIMS Combination Technique: Application in the Analysis of Ultra-Light and Trace Elements in Phyllosilicates
by Kairui Tai, Yang Li, Shen Liu, Zhuang Guo, Chen Li, Lin Du, Sizhe Zhao, Xiongyao Li and Jianzhong Liu
Minerals 2022, 12(5), 562; https://doi.org/10.3390/min12050562 - 29 Apr 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2333
Abstract
At present, a single technical method has difficulty in obtaining microscopic data of ultra-light elements, trace elements, and crystal structures in samples simultaneously. This work combined an in situ focused ion beam—transmission electron microscopy—time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (FTT) technique and [...] Read more.
At present, a single technical method has difficulty in obtaining microscopic data of ultra-light elements, trace elements, and crystal structures in samples simultaneously. This work combined an in situ focused ion beam—transmission electron microscopy—time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (FTT) technique and analyzed the composition and crystal structure of four phyllosilicate samples. These materials were comprised of antigorite, clinochlore, and cookeite phases. An FIB sample preparation technique was found to provide a sample thickness suitable for TEM observations and a degree of surface roughness appropriate for TOF-SIMS analysis. In addition, the relative amounts and distributions of various elements could be obtained, as well as crystal structure data, such that the composition and crystal structure of each specimen were determined. The in situ FTT method demonstrated herein successfully combines the advantages of all three analytical techniques and offers unique advantages with regard to analyzing ultra-light and trace elements as well as the structural data of phyllosilicates. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Clay-Based Nanocomposites)
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17 pages, 3556 KiB  
Article
The Synthesis of Biodegradable Poly(L-Lactic Acid)-Polyethylene Glycols Copolymer/Montmorillonite Nanocomposites and Analysis of the Crystallization Properties
by Jiunn-Jer Hwang, Su-Mei Huang, Wen-Yang Lin, Hsin-Jiant Liu, Cheng-Chan Chuang and Wen-Hui Chiu
Minerals 2022, 12(1), 14; https://doi.org/10.3390/min12010014 - 22 Dec 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2558
Abstract
This study makes use of polycondensation to produce poly (L-lactic acid)-(polyethylene glycols), a biodegradable copolymer, then puts it with organically modified montmorillonite (o-MMT) going through an intercalation process to produce a series of nanocomposites of PLLA-PEG/o-MMT. The exfoliation and intercalation of the montmorillonite-layered [...] Read more.
This study makes use of polycondensation to produce poly (L-lactic acid)-(polyethylene glycols), a biodegradable copolymer, then puts it with organically modified montmorillonite (o-MMT) going through an intercalation process to produce a series of nanocomposites of PLLA-PEG/o-MMT. The exfoliation and intercalation of the montmorillonite-layered structure could be found through X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The lower the molecular weight of poly (ethylene glycol), the more obvious the exfoliation and dispersion. The nanocomposites were investigated under non-isothermal crystallization and isothermal crystallization separately via differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). After the adding of o-MMT to PLLA-PEG copolymers, it was found that the PLLA-PEG nanocomposites crystallized slowly and the crystallization peak tended to become broader during the non-isothermal crystallization process. Furthermore, the thermal curve of the non-isothermal melt crystallization process of PLLA-PEG copolymers with different proportions of o-MMT showed that the melting point decreased gradually with the increase of o-MMT content. In the measurement of isothermal crystallization, increasing the o-MMT of the PLLA-PEG copolymers would increase the t1/2 (crystallization half time) for crystallization and decrease the value of ΔHc. However, the present study results suggest that adding o-MMT could affect the crystallization rate of PLLA-PEG copolymers. The o-MMT silicate layer was uniformly dispersed in the PLLA-PEG copolymers, forming a nucleating agent. The crystallization rate and the regularity of the crystals changed with the increase of the o-MMT content, which further affected the crystallization enthalpies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Clay-Based Nanocomposites)
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16 pages, 2080 KiB  
Article
Modified Montmorillonite as Drug Delivery Agent for Enhancing Antibiotic Therapy
by Luciana Sciascia, Ilaria Calabrese, Gennara Cavallaro, Marcello Merli, Cinzia Scialabba and Maria Liria Turco Liveri
Minerals 2021, 11(12), 1315; https://doi.org/10.3390/min11121315 - 25 Nov 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2327
Abstract
The appealing properties of surfactant-intercalated Montmorillonites (Organo-montmorillonite, OMt) were successfully investigated to propose an effective drug delivery system for metronidazole (MNE) antibiotic therapy. This represents a serious pharmaceutical concern due to the adverse drug reactions and the low targeting ability of MNE. The [...] Read more.
The appealing properties of surfactant-intercalated Montmorillonites (Organo-montmorillonite, OMt) were successfully investigated to propose an effective drug delivery system for metronidazole (MNE) antibiotic therapy. This represents a serious pharmaceutical concern due to the adverse drug reactions and the low targeting ability of MNE. The non-ionic surfactant Tween 20 was used to functionalize montmorillonite, thus accomplishing the two-fold objective of enhancing the stability of clay dispersion and better controlling drug uptake and release. The adsorption process was performed under different experimental conditions and investigated by constructing the adsorption isotherms through high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) measurements. Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements were performed to characterize the MNE/OMt compounds. The gathered results revealed that the uptake of the drug occurs preferentially in the clay interlayer, and it is governed by positive cooperative processes. The presence of surfactant drives the adsorption into clay interlayer and hampers the adsorption onto external lamella faces. The good performances of the prepared OMt in the controlled release of the MNE were proved by investigating the release profiles under physiological conditions, simulating oral drug administration. Cytotoxicity measurements demonstrated the biocompatibility of the complexes and evidenced that, under specific experimental conditions, nanodevices are more biocompatible than a free drug. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Clay-Based Nanocomposites)
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Review

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13 pages, 1672 KiB  
Review
Advances in Carbon Nanomaterial–Clay Nanocomposites for Diverse Applications
by Jayanta S. Boruah and Devasish Chowdhury
Minerals 2023, 13(1), 26; https://doi.org/10.3390/min13010026 - 23 Dec 2022
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2240
Abstract
Clay materials are widely used in sheet-type platforms with peculiar characteristics and diverse applications. However, due to some disadvantages—such as weak mechanical strength and low reactivity—they are often subjected to modifications. Such tuning leads to better output than pure clay materials. This review [...] Read more.
Clay materials are widely used in sheet-type platforms with peculiar characteristics and diverse applications. However, due to some disadvantages—such as weak mechanical strength and low reactivity—they are often subjected to modifications. Such tuning leads to better output than pure clay materials. This review describes some of the clay hybrids in the form of nanocomposites with carbon nanomaterials. Generally, graphene oxide or its derivatives—such as reduced graphene oxide, carbon nanotubes, carbon dots, carbon nanoclusters, and polymeric components—have been utilized so far to make efficient clay composites that have applications such as catalysis, wastewater treatment for toxin removal, cargo delivery, stimulus-responsive advanced tools, optoelectronics, mechanically stable films for filtration, etc. It is interesting to note that nearly all of these applications tend to show the efficacy of modified clay nanocomposites as being significantly greater than that of pure clay, especially in terms of mechanical strength, loading capacity, increased surface area, and tunable functionality. According to the literature, the evidence proves the beneficial effects of these clay nanocomposites with carbon nanomaterials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Clay-Based Nanocomposites)
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