Dye-interleaved nanocomposite: Evan's Blue in the lamella of Mg-Al-layered double hydroxide

Layered organic-inorganic hybrid nanocomposite, containing an organic dye in an inorganic interlayer was prepared using Evan's Blue (EB) as a guest in Mg-Al layered double hydroxide inorganic host by a self-assembly technique, with the Mg-Al ratio of 4 in the mother liquor at pH = 7.5. Powder X-ray diffractogram shows that the basal spacing of the Mg-Al layered double hydroxide with nitrate as the intergallery anion expanded from 8 to about 20 Angstrom to accommodate the EB anion, for the formation of the Mg-Al layered double hydroxide-EB layered organic-inorganic hybrid nanocomposite (MAEN). Formation of such a material is useful, for example for controlled release purposes of dye. for slow dyeing process. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.