Preparation and Characterization of Hybrid Organic-Inorganic Composite Material: Polymerization of m-Aminobenzoic Acid-Intercalated Into Zn/Al-Layered Double Hydroxides

Abstract

Layered double hydroxides of aluminum and zinc (Zn/Al-LDH’s) were synthesized directly by hydrolysis at room temperature as reported elsewhere. After characterization, the material was reacted with m-aminobenzoat anion (m-NH₂C₆H₄COO^-) which undergoes polymerization in the interlayer space; resulting in the formation of a matrix with polymeric organic macromolecule. The resulting material along with the host LDH’s compound of Zn/Al-Cl was characterized by X-Ray Powder Diffraction (PXRD), Thermal Analysis (TG), Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The study confirms the intercalation of m-aminobenzoat anion. Diffusion of oxygen molecules between the contact region of two anions in the interlayer space and oxidation of the anion lead to the formation of a polymer macromolecule. This intercalation compound result in a gallery height of 15.8 A, indicating that the guest anion stack to form a monolayer with the benzene rings perpendicular to the host layers, giving a suitable orientation for polymerization.