Enhancing the UV A1 screening ability of caffeic acid by encapsulation in layered basic zinc hydroxide matrix

An organic UV screening molecule, caffeic acid (CA), has been stabilised in a zinc basic salt (ZBS) matrix upon intercalative reaction into zinc hydroxide nitrate. According to the X-ray diffraction pattern, the basal spacing of the CA-ZBS nanohybrid is determined to be 10.4 Å, which is in agreement with a result of cross-section TEM analysis. FT-IR analysis shows that carboxylate groups in organic anions interact coordinately with zinc atoms on inorganic hydroxide sheets. The resultant CA-ZBS nanohybrid exhibits a superior UV screening ability compared to pure CA molecule.

Graphic abstractFigure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide