Characterization of swollen [Al3P4O16]3− · 3[NH3CH2CH3]+ in preparation for polymer-aluminophosphate nanocomposite fabrication

The as-synthesized layers of [Al3P4O16]3− · 3[NH3CH2CH3]+ are hydrogen bonded together with ethylammonium ions present in the gallery spaces. Before a polymer nanocomposite can be fabricated with this material the forces between the layers must be reduced and the gallery space must be expanded. The aluminophosphate was, therefore, ion exchanged with three surfactants, including cetyltrimethylammonium, octadecyldimethylbenzylammonium and protonated 1,12-diaminododecane to prepare the material for dispersion into a polymer matrix. Powder X-ray diffraction showed that the gallery spaces were expanded as a result of each ion exchange. A physical change could be observed in the treated samples using FESEM and 31P NMR confirmed that the bonding of the framework was not altered as a result of the treatments used.