Exploring and tuning the anchorage of chlorophyllin molecules on anionic clays

• The synthesis of a hybrid constituted by chlorophyllin and hydrotalcite.
• The tailoring of such hybrid may be directed with microwave irradiation.
• Chlorophyllin well dispersed in the hydrotalcite is more stable.
• The obtained compounds are non-toxic and they may be used as dietary complement.
• The obtained hybrids can be a reference for artificial photosynthesis experiments.

In experiments modeling photosynthesis, well dispersed chlorophyll molecules are required. A solution could be to anchor them on some host. In this work, new hybrid materials are synthesized using hydrotalcite and a chlorophyll derivative: chlorophyllin. Chlorophyllin is incorporated and dispersed in hydrotalcite through simultaneous precipitation or during hydrotalcite reconstruction. The effect of microwave irradiation on the crystallization step is discussed. In all cases stable materials are obtained, chlorophyllin molecules are isolated and bonded through hydrotalcite OH groups.

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