Ordered structurization of imogolite clay nanotubes by the spatiotemporal regulation of their assemblies

• Spatiotemporal regulated assembling of imogolite clays gives their ordered alignment.
• Ordered alignment of imogolites is controlled by number of nuclei for their ordering.
• Nature of imogolite as perfectly rigid nanotube induces their ordered alignment.

Ordered assembly of imogolite clay nanotubes was achieved by the spatiotemporal regulation of imogolite complex formation using an organic polyelectrolyte. In a confined reaction space, imogolites formed assemblies with anisotropic birefringence and distinct optical texture under uni-directional diffusion. In assemblies with anisotropic birefringence, imogolite nanotubes uniformly aligned along the longitudinal axis of the assemblies. The ordered structure of imogolites drastically changed with the size of the reaction space and the concentration of components that control a number of nuclei in the assembly. The perfectly rigid rod-like nature of imogolite clay nanotubes induces their ordered alignment.

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