The Generation of Novel Nanomaterials from the MCM-22-P Precursor Crystal

The creation of novel nanostructures from easy to produce precursor crystals has become a topic of significant interest in recent years. Methods including post synthetic functionalization, swelling, pillaring, and the introduction of metal nanoparticles to a precursor structure have all yielded new materials from these initial building blocks. One of the most promising methods to yield novel nanostructures from precursor crystals is the use of lamellar structures, such as the layered nanosheet MCM-22-P, to yield final inorganic crystals with tunable pore widths and metal oxide pillars between the layers.  In our group the use of these nanostructures have currently yielded two materials of interest for adsorption and catalysis. Of particular interest is the use of clay chemistries to yield final structures composed of zeolite layers bridged by metallic oxide pillars, such as those containing titanium or silica oxide. Secondary functionalization by our group has also yielded materials prepared from the lamellar precursor structure that contain post synthetically impregnated amine groups into both the large and small pore spaces. These materials therefore can be used to create a wide range of interesting nanostructures, with both organic and inorganic functionalities, and utilizing relatively simple chemical methods.