Study of the Diffusion Behavior of Seawater Absorption in Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes/Halloysite Nanotubes Hybrid Nanofillers Modified Epoxy-Based Glass/Carbon Fiber Composites

In the maritime industry, cost-effective and lightweight Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) composites offer excellent mechanical properties, design flexibility, and corrosion resistance. However, their reliability in harsh seawater conditions is a concern. Researchers address this by exploring three approaches: coating fiber surfaces, hybridizing fibers and matrices with or without nanofillers, and interply rearrangement. This study focuses on evaluating the synergistic effects of interply rearrangement of glass/carbon fibers and hybrid nanofillers, specifically Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) and Halloysite nanotubes (HNT). The aim is to enhance impact properties by minimizing moisture absorption. Hybrid nanocomposites with equal-weight proportions of two nanofillers: 0 wt.%, 1 wt.%, and 2 wt.% were exposed to seawater for 90 days. Experimental data was subjected to modelling through the application of Predictive Fick’s Law. The study found that the hybrid composite containing 2 wt.% hybrid nanofillers exhibited a 22.10% increase in impact performance compared to non-modified counterparts. After 90 days of seawater aging, the material exhibited enhanced resistance to moisture absorption (15.74%) and minimal reduction in impact strength (8.52%) compared to its dry strength, with lower diffusion coefficients.

Two-Dimensional Co_(2)(OH)1,4-Benzenedicarboxylate-Halloysite Nanotube Nanocomposite-Epoxy Coating with High Corrosion Resistance

Introducing inorganic nanomaterials into a polymer matrix greatly improves the anticorrosion performance of epoxy coatings(EP);however,poor compatibility between the materials can limit the improvement in properties.In this work,based on the high interface compatibility of two-dimensional(2D)Co_(2)(OH)_(2)BDC(BDC=1,4-benzenedicarboxylate)in the epoxy coating that we reported in previous work,we fabricated a 2D Co_(2)(OH)_(2)BDC-halloysite nanotube(HNT)nanocomposite have a structure consisting of alternating of nanosheets and nanotube by in situ synthesis.The nanocomposite was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy,X-ray diffraction,and scanning electron microscopy.The mechanical and anticorrosion performance of the 2D Co_(2)(OH)_(2)BDC-HNT/EP coating was evaluated by mechanical tests and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy spectra.Compared with a conventional unreinforced epoxy coating,the 2D Co_(2)(OH)_(2)BDC-HNT/EP coating had higher mechanical strength and toughness,and the low-frequency impedance modulus of 2D Co_(2)(OH)_(2)BDC-HNT/EP coating was increased by three orders of magnitude,demonstrating the high corrosion resistance of our reinforced coating.

In-situ incorporation of halloysite nanotubes with 2D zeolitic imidazolate framework-L based membrane for dye/salt separation

Layered assembled membranes of 2D leaf-like zeolitic imidazolate frameworks(ZIF-L)nanosheets have received great attention in the field of water treatment due to the porous structure and excellent antibacterial ability,but the dense accumulation on the membrane surface and the low permeate flux greatly hinder their application.Herein,we synthesized m HNTs(modified halloysite nanotubes)/ZIF-L nanocomposites on modified m HNTs by in situ growth method.Interestingly,due to the different size of m HNTs and ZIF-L,m HNTs were packed in ZIF-L nanosheets.The hollow m HNTs provided additional transport channels for water molecules,and the accumulation of the ZIF-L nanosheets was decreased after assembling m HNTs/ZIF-L nanocomposites into membrane by filtration.The prepared m HNTs/ZIF-L membrane presented high permeate flux(59.6 L·m^(-2)·h^(-1)),which is 2-4 times of the ZIF-L membranes(14.8 L·m^(-2)·h^(-1)).Moreover,m HNTs/ZIF-L membranes are intrinsically antimicrobial,which exhibit extremely high bacterial resistance.We provide a controllable strategy to improve 2D ZIF-L assembles,and develops novel membranes using 2D package structure as building units.

Microstructure and Photocatalytic Decomposition of Methylene Blue by TiO2-Mounted Halloysite, a Natural Tubular Mineral

On the basis of analysis of structure and properties, halloysite, a natural tubular mineral, was developed for an environmental treatment. TiO2 was mounted into halloysite by using hydrolysis of tetrabutyl titanate at room temperature. The adsorption and photocatalytic performance of halloysite and TiO2-mounted halloysite have been examined in methylene blue aqueous solution in the dark and under ultraviolet ray irradiation, respectively. Their performance of adsorption and photodecomposition was evaluated from the adsorbed and degraded amounts of methylene blue （MB）. Due to the mixture of adsorption and photodecomposition, the concentration of MB, organic pollution, in water decreased rapidly with TiO2-mounted halloysite powder, which is a faster reaction than that with halloysite-only adsorption. This new use of halloysite is leading to many interesting applications in the decomposition and elimination of various pollutants in air and water.

Ion shielding functional separator using halloysite containing a negative functional moiety for stability improvement of Li–S batteries

Lithium–sulfur batteries are one of the attractive next-generation energy storage systems owing to theienvironmental friendliness,low cost,and high specific energy densities.However,the low electrical conductivity of sulfur,shuttling of soluble intermediate polysulfides between electrodes,and low capacitretention have hampered their commercial use.To address these issues,we use a halloysitemodulated(H-M)separator in a lithium–sulfur battery to mitigate the shuttling problem.The H-M separator acts as a mutual Coulombic repulsion in lithium-sulfur batteries,thereby selectively permitting Lions and efficiently suppressing the transfer of undesired lithium polysulfides to the Li anode sideMoreover,the use of halloysite switches the surface of the separator from hydrophobic to hydrophilicconsequently improving the electrolyte wettability and adhesion between the separator and cathodeWhen sulfur-multi-walled carbon nanotube(S-MWCNT)composites are used as cathode active materialsa lithium–sulfur battery with an H-M separator exhibits first discharge and charge capacities of 1587 an1527 m Ah g-1,respectively.Moreover,there is a consistent capacity retention up to 100 cyclesAccordingly,our approach demonstrates an economical and easily accessible strategy for commercialization of lithium–sulfur batteries.

Enhancement of thermal stability and UV resistance of halloysite nanotubes using zinc oxide functionalization via a solvent-free approach

The aim of this study was to synthesize and evaluate the thermal properties and ultraviolet(UV)resistance of zinc oxide-functionalized halloysite nanotubes(HNT–ZnO).The HNT–ZnO was synthesized using a facile solvent-free route.The properties of the HNT–ZnO nanofillers were characterized using zeta-potential measurement,X-ray diffraction(XRD),field-emission scanning electron microscopy(FESEM),transmission electron microscopy(TEM),Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR),and thermogravimetric analysis(TGA).The immobilization of ZnO nanoparticles onto HNT is feasible even at the lowest mass ratio of HNT/ZnO.The TGA results indicate that the thermal stability of the HNT–ZnO nanofillers is higher than that of the HNT.Furthermore,UV?Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy(UV-DRS)results show that the HNT–ZnO achieve a total reflectance as high as approximately 87.5%in the UV region,as compare with 66.9%for the HNT.In summary,the immobilization of ZnO onto HNT is a viable approach for increasing the thermal stability and improving the UV shielding of HNT.

Release rate kinetics of corrosion inhibitor loaded halloysite nanotube-based anticorrosion coatings on magnesium alloy AZ91D

Halloysite nanotubes were used as nanocontainers to hold corrosion inhibitors such as Ce^(3+)-Zr^(4+),2-mercaptobenzothiazole and 8-hydroxyquinoline in their lumen.An acid assisted etching of the nanotubes was carried out with a view to increase the lumen diameter and thereby,increase the amount of loading of the corrosion inhibitor.The morphology of as-received and etched halloysite nanotubes was ob-served using TEM analysis.The loading of corrosion inhibitors was confirmed using SEM-EDS and BET analysis.Polymeric microcapsules were used as capping agents for the ends of the loaded HNTs following which,they were dispersed into a hybrid sol-gel silica matrix.Dip coating method was used to generate coatings on AZ91D substrates followed by heat treatment at 130℃ for 1 h.The release rate kinetics of corrosion inhibitors from as-received and etched nanotubes was investigated in buffer solutions of 3.5 wt%NaCl at different pH.The release mechanism of corrosion inhibitors from the HNT lumen was validated using various semi-empirical models.Coatings were also evaluated for their corrosion protection ability using electrochemical techniques after exposure to 3.5 wt%NaCl solution for 120 h.Coatings generated using Ce^(3+)-Zr^(4+)loaded into as-received halloysite nanotubes have shown more effective corrosion protection when compared to other corrosion inhibitors after 120 h exposure to the corrosive medium.

MORPHOLOGY,INTERFACIAL INTERACTION AND PROPERTIES OF STYRENE-BUTADIENE RUBBER/MODIFIED HALLOYSITE NANOTUBE NANOCOMPOSITES

A natural nanotubular material,halloysite nanotubes(HNTs),was introduced to prepare styrene-butadiene rubber/modified halloysite nanotube(SBR/m-HNT) nanocomposites.Complex of resorcinol and hexamethylenetetramine (RH) was used as the interfacial modifier.The structure,morphology and mechanical properties of SBR/m-HNT nanocomposites,especially the interfacial interactions,were investigated.SEM and TEM observations showed that RH can not only facilitate the dispersion and orientation of HNTs in SBR matrix at ...

Electroless deposition of Ni on template of halloysite and its magnetic property

Halloysite template, a ceramic substrate, is of a hollow cylindric structure, on which the fine Pd nanoparticles are uniformly formed by the reduction of palldate chloride to initiate electroless deposition. The electroless deposition of Ni is catalyzed by the Pd particles, which results in a uniform layer of Ni-P alloy on halloysite. The alloy is of a nanocrystalline structure, of which the average diameter is about 6 nm. After being heat-treated at 400 ℃, it contains both Ni and Ni12P5 crystal, meanwhile, the Ni crystal gets larger with an average size of 51.9 nm.The content of phosphorous in the Ni layer has a great influence on crystal structure. The metallized halloysite has a higher inherent coercive force, and a much lower saturation magnetization in its as-plated state, while after heattreatment, the inherent coercive force decreases drastically. These magnetic properties have great relationship with the superparamagnetism of Ni nanocrystalline and the stress anisotropy in Ni layer.

Experimental Study on Adsorption of Rare Earth Elements on Kaolinite and Halloysite

1 Introduction The weathered crust rare earth deposits is one of the most significant rare earth deposits,which are mostly distributed in southern China,especially in the south of Jiangxi province(Chi et al.,2007).The compositions of these deposits,which are weathered from igneous rocks such as granite through biological,physical or chemical

Natural Tubular Halloysite as Drug Carrier: Effect of Organosilane Modification and Thermal Treatment

Naturally occurring tubular halloysite is a potential drug carrier because of the significant deposit, unique mesoscopic (2-50 nm) or even macroscopic (>50 nm) lumen, and excellent biocompatibility. The drugs loaded on halloysite exhibited slow release under the diffusion limitation by the halloysite nanotube. However, due to the weak interaction between halloysite and guest, the loading capacity of halloysite was relatively low. This drawback severely limits the application of halloysite as carrier in pharmaceutics. In this study, the performance of halloysite as carrier for ibuprofen (IBU) loading was investigated for the first time. The effects of 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) modification and thermal treatment of halloysite on the loading and release of IBU were also studied. The purified halloysites were heated at 120 ℃ and 400 ℃ (labeled as Hal/120 and Hal/400), and then modified with APTES (labeled as Hal/120-A and Hal/400-A). The loading of IBU was achieved by soaking method (labeled as IBU-Hal/120, IBU-Hal/400, IBU-Hal/120-A, and IBU-Hal/400-A.). The in vitro drug delivery assays were performed in phosphate buffer solution. IBU was loaded mainly into the lumen and partially on the external surface of halloysite. The order of IBU contents was as follows: IBU-Hal/400-A (14.8wt%) > IBU-Hal/120-A (12.7wt%) > IBU-Hal/400 (11.8wt%) > IBU-Hal/120 (11.7wt%). The IBU was initially anchored to the surface hydroxyl groups of halloysite by hydrogen bonding, followed by further bonding of IBU with the anchored IBU to form hydrogen-bonded aggregates. The APTES modification of halloysite promoted the loading of IBU by introducing a strong affinity through electrostatic attraction between the introduced aminopropyl groups of APTES and the carboxyl groups of IBU. Thermal treatment at 400°C did not destroy the tubular morphology or the crystal structure of halloysite and had little effect on IBU loading in unmodified halloysite. However, thermal treatment by reducing water content in halloysite restricted the grafting of APTES in the lumen space, and further increased IBU loading. All IBU-loaded samples exhibit a burst release with a following slow release. However, owing to the strong electrostatic attraction in modified samples, the burst release was much more suppressed and the release rate was also lower than that in unmodified ones. The in vitro release profiles of the IBU-loaded samples were well fitted with the modified Korsmeyer-Peppas model. The IBU release mechanism of the unmodified samples was Fickian diffusion; however it was non-Fickian diffusion for the modified samples. The findings are of significance for broadening the use of halloysite as carrier for drugs and other active molecules in the pharmaceutical, pesticides, and coating industries.

Effect of preparation method on halloysite supported cobalt catalysts for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis

Novel cobalt Fischer-Tropsch synthesis （FTS） catalysts were prepared from natural halloysite nanotubes （HNT） by double-solvent and wet- impregnation methods, and characterized by TEM, XRD, TPR and N2 adsorption-desorption. Comparing with the catalyst prepared by wet- impregnation method, the catalyst prepared by double-solvent method reduces Co3O4 particle migration and agglomeration due to size-induced effect, thus showing higher catalytic activity for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis.

Environmental Stress Cracking Resistance of Halloysite Nanoclay-Polyester Nanocomposites

The environmental stress cracking resistance of halloysite nanoclay-polyester nanocomposites was investigated using fracture mechanics approach. The incorporation of halloysite nanoclay was found to improve the environmental stress cracking resistance of the nano-composites. The storage modulus of nano-composites measured by dynamic mechanical analysis increased remarkably as a function of halloysite nanoclay content. At 0.7 wt% nanoclay, the Tg improved from 72°C to 76°C. The fracture toughness increased up to 33% and time to failure improved 155% with the addition of 0.7 wt% of halloysite nanoclay. The maximum microhardness was found 119% higher for the same nano-filler concentration compared to monolithic polyester. The reinforcement with 1 wt% showed lower fracture toughness due to agglomerations of nanoclay which act as flaws. The presence of agglomerates weakened the bond between nano-particles and matrix hence reduces the environmental stress cracking resistance by halloysite nanoclay reinforcement.

Transport Properties of Novel Hybrid Cation-Exchange Membranes on the Base of MF-4SC and Halloysite Nanotubes

The diffusion permeability through new hybrid materials based on a Nafion-type membrane (MF- 4SC) and nanotubes of halloysite is investigated using the Nernst-Planck approach. A method of quantitative evaluation of physicochemical parameters (averaged and individual diffusion coefficients and averaged distribution coefficients of ion pairs in the membrane) of system “electrolyte solution—ion-exchange membrane—water”, which was proposed earlier, is further developed. The parameters of hybrid membranes on the base of MF-4SC and nanotubes of halloysite (5% wt and 8% wt) are obtained from experimental data on diffusion permeability of NaCl solutions using theoretical calculations. New model of three-layer membrane system can be used for refining calculated results with taking into account both diffusive layers. It is shown that adding of halloysite nanotubes into the membrane volume noticeably affects exchange capacity as well as structural and transport characteristics of original perfluorinated membranes. Hybrid membranes on the base of MF-4SC and halloysite nanotubes can be used in fuel cells and catalysis.

Chemical Modification of Halloysite Nanotubes for the Preparation of Nanocomposites on Non Polar Matrix

In this study,we demonstrated the effects of chemical treatments for Halloysite nanotubes(HNTs)under acid and alkaline conditions using sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide.XRD results indicate that alkaline treatment destroyed the crystalline structure and morphology for HNTs because the XRD spectrum shows the typical peaks for montmorillonite.For the acid treatment using H2SO4,XRD spectrum indicates an intensity reduction for the peak(001)showing a lower concentration of aluminium in the structure.Diffuse reflectance analysis shows a reduction of 40 and 15%for reflectance with H2SO4 and NaOH treatments respectively.A terephthalic acid adsorption test was realized with the HNTs,modified halloysites(HNT-H2SO4)and(HNT-NaOH)samples with a kinetic study and it was quantified with UV spectroscopy at 240 nm where results shown a lower adsorption for HNTs treated with H2SO4 in comparison with alkaline treatment and not treated HNT.A decrease of 58%±0.3was achieved with the sulfuric acid treatment with not crystalline structure modification using ICP technique to quantify the sample compositions.

Implementation of a Simulation Model of the Controlled Release of Molecular Species from Halloysite Nanotubes

In this work a three-dimensional, time-quantified Monte Carlo model that efficiently describes diffusion through and from nanotubes is implemented. Controlled delivery from Halloysite Nano-tubes (HNT) is modeled based on interactions between the HNT’s inner wall and the nanoparticles (NPs) and among NPs themselves. The model was validated using published experimental data. The validated model is then used to study the effect of multiples parameter like HNT diameter and length, particle charge, and ambient temperature on the release of encapsulated NPs. The results show that release profiles depend on the size distribution of the HNT batch used for the experiment, as delivery is sensitive to HNT lumen and length. A very good agreement with the experiment is observed when a weighted average release profile is compared to the experimental profile. Although the NP dynamics is temperature-dependent, the effect is minimum within the range of temperatures relevant to biomedical applications, but will be relevant for other applications at temperatures significantly different from room temperature. This model can be used to predict the best conditions for a particular delivery need.

Halloysite‒gold core‒shell nanosystem synergistically enhances thermal conductivity and mechanical properties to optimize the wear-resistance of a pheonlic-PBO/PTFE textile composite liner

Polymer-textile liner composites have potential applications in aerospace applications for reducing the abrasion damage of moving parts during operation owing to their self-lubrication,light weight,and high loading capacity.Herein,Au nanoparticles(AuNPs)are successfully loaded into the lumen of halloysite nanotubes(HNTs)to construct an HNTs‒Au peasecod core‒shell nanosystem to optimize the wear resistance of phenolic resin-based poly(p-phenylene benzobisoxazole)(PBO)/polytetrafluoroethylene(PTFE)textile composites.Transmission electron microscope(TEM)characterization reveals that the AuNPs are well-dispersed inside the HNTs,with an average diameter of 6‒9 nm.The anti-wear performance of the HNTs and Au-reinforced PBO/PTFE composites is evaluated using a pin-on-disk friction tester at 100 MPa.Evidently,the addition of HNTs‒Au induces a 27.9%decrease in the wear rate of the composites.Possible anti-wear mechanisms are proposed based on the analyzed results of the worn surface morphology and the cross-section of the tribofilm obtained by focused ion beam transmission electron microscopy.

Efficient anion immobilization enabled by structurally controllable halloysite for dendrite-free sodium metal anode

Sodium metal has shown great potential as an inexpensive anode for rechargeable batteries. However, the growth of sodium dendrites continues to hinder the commercialization of Na metal batteries. Herein, an effective strategy using anion-anchoring halloysite nanotube(HNT) coating was proven to prevent the diffusion of anions and trigger uniform Na deposition. Through theoretical calculation, a model of active site of fixed anions exposed from HNTs after acid activation was established for the first time, revealing that Si–Al sites are effective active site of acid-activated HNTs. Furthermore, HNTs with strong and effective adsorption capacity for anions were obtained by controlling the structure of HNTs to regulate the exposure of Si–Al sites. The strong interaction between sites of acid-activated HNTs and the SO_(3)CF_(3)^(-) anion effectively promotes the dissociation of sodium salts, the release of Na^(+) and subsequent migration. As a result, HNTs acid activation for 4 h shows a steady sodium deposition process and displays high Coulombic efficiency in half cell, long cycle life in symmetric cell and full cell. This work provides a basic theoretical basis for the design of nanoclay with abundant and effective active site to fix anions for dendritic free metal batteries.

Engineering a tubular mesoporous silica nanocontainer with well-preserved clay shell from natural halloysite

The in situ synthesis of mesoporous nanotubes from natural minerals remains a great challenge. Herein, we report the successful synthesis of mesoporous silica nanotubes （MNTs） with a varying inner-shell thickness and a preserved clay outer shell from natural-halloysite nanotubes （HNTs）. After the enlargement of the lumen diameter of the tubular aluminosilicate clay by acid leaching, uniform mesopores were introduced by a modified pseudomorphic transformation approach, while the clay outer shell was well-preserved. Using density functional theory calculations, the atomic structure evolution and the energetics during A1 leaching and Si-OH condensation were studied in detail. After the leaching of A1 ions from the HNTs, local structural changes from Al（Oh） to A1（V） at a medium leaching level and to AI（Td） at a high leaching level were confirmed. The calculated hydroxylation energy of two kinds of silica components in the acid-leached HNTs （the distorted two-dimensional silica source in the inner shell and the intact aluminosilicate structure in the outer shell） was 0.5 eV lower or 1.0 eV higher than that of bulk silica, which clarifies the different behavior of the silica components in the hydrothermal process. The successful synthesis of reactive MNTs from HNTs introduces a new strategy for the synthesis of mesoporous nanocontainers with a special morphology using natural minerals. In particular, MNT samples with numerous reactive AI（V） species and a specific surface area up to 583 m^2/g （increased by a factor of 10） are promising drugloading nanocontainers and nanoreactors.

Effects of Halloysite Nanotube Reinforcement in Expandable Graphite Based Intumescent Fire Retardant Coatings Developed Using Hybrid Epoxy Binder System

In this study, the effects of halloysite nanotubes （HNTs） reinforcement in expandable graphite based intumescent fire retardant coatings （IFRCs） developed using a polydimethylsiloxane （PDMS）/phenol BA epoxy system were investigated. Intumescent coating formulations were developed by incorporating different weight percentages of HNTs and PDMS in basic intumescent ingredients （ammonium polyphosphate/melamine/boric acid/expandable graphite, APP/MEL/BA/EG）. The performance of intumescent formulations was investigated by furnace fire test, Bunsen burner fire test, field emission electron microscopy （FESEM）, thermogravimetric analysis （TGA）, transmission electron microscopy （TEM）, and Fourier transform infrared analysis （FTIR）. The Bunsen burner fire test results indicated that the fire performance of HNTs and PDMS reinforced intumescent formulation has improved due to the development of silicate network over the char residue. Improved expansion in char residue was also noticed in the formulation, SH（3）, due to the minimum decomposition of char carbon. FESEM and TEM results validated the development of silicate network over char layer of coating formulations. A considerable mass loss difference was noticed during thermal gravimetric analysis （TGA） of intumescent coating formulations. Reference formulation, SH（0） with no filler, degraded at 300 ~C and lost 50% of its total mass but SH（3）, due to synergistic effects between PDMS and HNTs, degraded above 400 ~C and showed the maximum thermal stability. XRD analysis showed the development of thermally stable compound mulltie, due to the synergism of HNTs and siloxane during intumescent reactions, which enhanced fire performance. FTIR analysis showed the presence of incorporated siloxane and silicates bonds in char residue, which endorsed the toughness of intumescent char layer produced. Moreover, the synergistic effect ofHNTs, PDMS, and other basic intumescent ingredients enhanced the polymer cross-linking in binder system and improved fire resistive performance of coatings.