Transformation of Aluminosilicate Nanotubes into a Surface Active Hybrid Phase by Decylphosphonic Acid

Abstract

International audienceThe surface functionalization of imogolite nanotubes enables to tune their properties and opens many possibilities, e.g. for the design and tailoring of polymer matrices and membranes. It has been unambiguously shown that imogolite reacts with the phosphonic acid moiety and that the properties of the obtained materials are modified. However, the impact of the grafting reaction on the structure of imogolite has never been clearly established. In this article, we take one of the most spread imogolite grafting protocols and study the impact of the reaction on the structure of the nanotube. By combining X-ray scattering, FT-IR, and magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, we observed the formation of a lamellar phase but no evidence for grafted tubes. The obtained composite material exhibits unexpected properties at the oilwater interface