Nano-clay smectite

FIGURE 2.2 The smectite clay structure. (From http //www.pslc.ws/macrog/mpm/composit/nano/stmct3 l. htm, access date 4.11.06.)... 

Pillared interlayered clays (PILC) can be regarded as nanocomposites, in which oxide particles of nano- and subnanometer scales are incorporated into the interlayer space of two-dimensional aluminosilicates [1]. In recent years, much attention has been focused on this new type of materials with large heights of pillars, because they provide larger pores in comparison to conventional zeolites. Smectites pillared with transition metal oxides (e.g. Cr, Fe, Ti) are of particular interest because the incorporated phases have themselves catalytic properties. Such solids are claimed to possess a remarkable activity in a notable number of reactions [2,3]. 

Recently, several works study the preparation of nano scale acid solids constructed between the interlayers of smectite clay minerals [3]. 

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