Applications and interfaces of halloysite nanocomposites

• Halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) have notubular structures with low surface group density.
• The wide applications of HNTs-metal composites were in detail summarized.
• The techniques for functionalizing HNTs with metal nanoparticles were reviewed.
• The interfacial characteristics between metal nanoparticles and HNTs were analyzed.

Halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) showed natural nanotubular structures with similar chemical composition to kaolin. This paper reviewed the exciting applications of HNTs due to their abundantly deposit, nanoscale lumens, high length-to-diameter ratios, and relatively low surface hydroxyl group density. HNTs have been used as ideal templates for conveniently immobilizing nanoparticles, which could enable the construction of designed nano-architectures that are extremely attractive as supports for heterogeneous catalysts and for use in the fuel cells and related technologies that exploited the inherent ‘smallness’ and hollow characteristics of the nanoparticles. The recent developments in this area by exploring the various techniques with which HNTs could be functionalized with metal nanoparticles, and the diverse applications of the resulting materials overviewed in detail. The corresponding interfacial characteristics of the nanocomposites were emphasized.

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