Preparation and characterization of kaolinite/alkylimidazole ionic liquids intercalation composites

K-[Emim]Br and K-[Bmim]Br were successfully prepared by using K-DMSO and K-MeOH intercalation composites as precursors. The products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermo gravimetric-differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The XRD results showed that the interlayer d-spacing of kaolinite increased as the result of the successful insertion of ionic liquids, and the d-spacing Δd increased with longer alkyl chain, also concluded that methanol interacted with kaolinite for 5 to 6 d could provide ionic liquids with the optimal intercalated condition. The FT-IR spectras suggested that ionic liquids formed hydrogen bonds with the inner surface hydroxyls of kaolinite. The TG-DSC results showed that kaolinite got a better thermal stability due to the increase of the dehydroxylation temperature from 490.6 to 501.5 and 495.5, respectively. The morphology of products had big changes compared with the raw kaolinite according to the SEM images. ©, 2015, Journal of Functional Materials. All right reserved.