One-step exfoliation of kaolinites and their transformation into nanoscrolls

Kaolinite nanoscrolls, rolled kaolinite sheets with a tubular form, were prepared by a one-step route in which intercalation of guest species and swelling with solvent proceed at the same time. A methoxy-modified kaolinite was exfoliated by the intercalation of hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride. The formation of nanoscrolls by the one-step route proceeded only by several alkyltrimethylammonium salts and 1-hexadecyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride. Intercalation of primary amines caused the formation of nanoscrolls by a two-step route in which the intercalation and swelling proceed separately. The successful one-step route is ascribed to the relatively weak interactions between the head groups of guest species and the interlayer surface of methoxy-modified kaolinite, and the interaction is thought to allow the formation of a flexible array of interlayer guest species for swelling. The tubular structure was mostly retained after the heat treatment at 600 °C to form hierarchically porous aluminosilicates with amorphous frameworks. The nanoscrolls intercalated organic guests species, which are not directly intercalated into methoxy-modified kaolinite, between the scrolled layers. The formation route to nanoscrolls is quite dependent not only on the surface modification of kaolinite but also on the structure of guest species.