Template formation of aluminum–magnesium hydroxide nano-branches on linear poly(ethylene imine)

Linear poly(ethylene imine) (PEI) can self-assemble into fibrous aggregates composed of a crystalline core and a brush-like shell of ethylene imine (EI) segments, and thus can be used as “templates” to prepare a range of inorganic materials. To further illustrate the feasibility of this technique, an investigation of low-temperature formation of nanostructured aluminum–magnesium hydroxide (AMH) on linear PEI “templates” is described, and the corresponding reaction mechanism suggested tentatively. AMH nano-branches were formed after hydrolysis of aluminium and magnesium lactates on PEI, indicating the site-selective deposition process of AMH on surfaces of PEI. The technique reported in this paper could be potentially used to fabricate other nanostructured complex metal oxides.