Nanocompósitos à base de amido de mandioca, argila sintética hectorita e açúcar invertido (plastificante) foram preparados por processo em meio aquoso (casting) produzindo filmes transparentes e homogêneos. Pequenas quantidades de argila (5-15% em massa) produzem principalmente nanocompósitos esfoliados, enquanto grandes quantidades (30% em massa) promovem a formação de nanocompósitos intercalados. Os espectros FT-Raman mostram que bandas sensíveis à ligação de hidrogênio em grânulos de amido são progressivamente deslocadas para frequências menores quando o teor de argila é aumentado. Os nanocompósitos mostram um comportamento térmico semelhante até 320 ºC, enquanto a decomposição da biomolécula em cerca de 500 ºC é dependente do teor de argila. A liberação de CO2 em aproximadamente 300 ºC (decomposição não oxidativa das cadeias poliméricas) diminui se comparada com o desprendimento desse gás em 500 ºC quando a quantidade de argila é aumentada. Filmes com teor de argila maior que 10% não mostram melhora substancial nas propriedades de alongamento ou resistência.

Polymer-clay nanocomposites (PCN) based on cassava starch, synthetic hectorite clay and inverted sugar cane syrup (plasticizer) were prepared by solvent-assisted (casting) process producing transparent and homogeneous films. Small amounts of clay (5-15 wt.%) resulted mainly in exfoliated nanocomposites while large amounts (30 wt.%) promote the intercalated nanocomposites formation. FT-Raman bands sensitive to hydrogen bonding in starch granules are progressively shifted to lower wavenumbers as the clay content is raised. Nanocomposites show a similar thermal behavior up to 320 ºC while the biomolecule decomposition at about 500 ºC is dependent on the clay content. CO2 release at about 300 ºC (non-oxidative decomposition of polymeric chains) decreases if compared to the gas delivery at ca. 500 ºC, as the clay content is increased. Films with clay content higher than 10 wt.% show no substantial benefit for either elongation or resistance properties.

A modificação química do material lamelar K4Nb6O17 foi investigada sistematicamente através da reação de sua forma protônica (H2K2Nb6O17) em soluções alcalinas contendo os cátions tetrametilamônio (tma+), tetraetilamônio (tea+) ou tetrapropilamônio (tpa+). A quantidade intercalada corresponde a 50% (para tma+), 25% (para tea+) e 15% (para tpa+) da carga negativa do H2K2Nb6O17 (considerando a troca iônica na região interlamelar I). As amostras de hexaniobato apresentam reflexões basais (020) de 23,0, 26,3 e 26,5 Å quando intercaladas, respectivamente, com tma+, tea+ e tpa+. Aquecendo-se as amostras acima de 200-250 ºC, observa-se a liberação de CO2; a reação de eliminação de Hofmann também é observada para as amostras de hexaniobato-tpa+. As imagens de microscopia eletrônica de varredura mostram a presença predominante de partículas em forma de placas; partículas em forma de bastões também são observadas nas amostras contendo íons volumosos. A reação de intercalação é promovida na ordem tma+ > tea+ > tpa+, enquanto a formação de uma dispersão de partículas coloidais é facilitada na ordem inversa.

Chemical modification of the layered K4Nb6O17 material was systematically investigated through the reaction of its proton-exchanged form (H2K2Nb6O17) in alkaline solutions containing tetramethylammonium (tma+), tetraethylammonium (tea+) or tetrapropylammonium (tpa+) cations. The intercalated amount reaches 50% (for tma+), 25% (for tea+) and 15% (for tpa+) of the H2K2Nb6O17 negative charge (concerning the exchange at interlayer I) due to the steric hindrance of larger cations. Hexaniobate samples present (020) basal reflections equal to 23.0, 26.3 and 26.5 Å once intercalated respectively with tma+, tea+ and tpa+. When samples are heated above 200-250 ºC, CO2 evolution is observed; Hofmann elimination reaction is also detected for hexaniobate-tpa+ samples. Scanning electron microscopy images show the predominance of plate-like particles; stick-like particles are also observed for samples containing bulky ions. The intercalation reaction is promoted in the order tma+ > tea+ > tpa+, while the formation of a dispersion of colloidal particles is facilitated in the inverse order.

The niobate with formula K4Nb6O17 has a layered structure formed by stacked negative sheets and exchangeable cations in the interlayer region. In this study we discuss some structural aspects related to the ion exchange in layered hexaniobate based on X-ray diffractometry and vibrational Raman spectroscopy data. Hexaniobate has two distinct interlayer regions and the potassium ions of one interlayer in particular are preferably exchanged by other cations, leading to an interstratified material.

Two-dimensional inorganic networks can shown intracrystalline reactivity, i.e., simple ions, large species as Keggin ions, organic species, coordination compounds or organometallics can be incorporated in the interlayer region. The host-guest interaction usually causes changes in their chemical, catalytic, electronic and optical properties. The isolation of materials with interesting properties and making use of soft chemistry routes have given rise the possibility of industrial and technological applications of these compounds. We have been using several synthetic approaches to intercalate porphyrins and phthalocyanines into inorganic materials: smectite clays, layered double hydroxides and layered niobates. The isolated materials have been characterized by elemental and thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction, surface area measurements, scanning electronic microscopy, electronic and resonance Raman spectroscopies and EPR. The degree of layer stacking and the charge density of the matrices as well their acid-base nature were considered in our studies on the interaction between the macrocycles and inorganic hosts.