Spectroscopic, Microscopic, X‐Ray Diffraction and Thermal Stability Studies of Stearic Acid Modified Hydrotalcite Formed through Memory Effect

Organic modification of layered double hydroxide (LDH) (hydrotalcite) is a remarkable and a very essential step in the field of fabrication of exfoliated LDH polymer nanocomposites for novel multifaceted applications. In this research work, stearic acid (SA) modification of LDH has been conducted successfully by memory effect. The modification of LDH has been confirmed by atomic force microscopic analysis, scanning electron microscopic analysis, transmission electron microscopic analysis, X-ray diffraction analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic analysis, X-ray photo electron spectroscopic analysis, Raman spectroscopic analysis, energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis, and thermogravimeric analysis. The basal spacing in the SA-modified LDH is found to be 5.03 nm, which is almost double the value of 18 C-C lengths in SA. This indicates the formation of a bilayer of stearate ion in the interlamellar region of LDH in the modified form. Hence, this work is novel as it paved a breakthrough for making organic-inorganic hybrid for drug delivery, gene delivery, controlled pesticide release, etc. with the prolonged delivery time as the interlayer region consisted of double the number of stearate ions in monolayer intercalated LDH.