Graphite oxide-intercalated anionic clay and its decomposition to graphene-inorganic material nanocomposites

A graphite oxide-intercalated anionic clay (nickel zinc hydroxysalt) has been prepared using the aqueous colloidal dispersions of negatively charged graphite oxide sheets and aminobenzoate-intercalated anionic clay layers as precursors. When the two colloidal dispersions are reacted, the interlayer aminobenzoate ions are displaced from the anionic clay and the negatively charged graphite oxide sheets are intercalated between the positively charged layers of the anionic clay. The thermal decomposition of the intercalated solid at different temperatures yields graphene-metal oxide/metal nanocomposites. Electron microscopic analysis of the composites indicates that the nanoparticles are intercalated between the layers of graphite in many regions of these solids although the graphite layers are largely exfoliated and not stacked well together.