Synthesis, characterization, and challenges faced during the preparation of zirconium pillared clays

In this study, Zr-pillared montmorillonite clays (Zr-PILCs) were synthesized using two different precursor materials: raw (CM) and sodium ion-saturated (Na-CM) at Zr/clay ratios (2.5, 5 10 mmol/g). To study the effect of Zr concentration clay pre-treatment with NaCl on pillaring, modified samples characterized in detail X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), scanning energy-dispersive (STEM-EDX). The XRD showed increase basal spacing Zr-PILCs prepared from both 1.26 to 1.74 nm case CM, 1.13 1.93 for Na-CM. Results FT-IR revealed new bands ascribed Zr-O bonds range 400–500 cm−1 obtained Na-CM 2.5 mmol/g. distribution nature species between silicate layers studied STEM-EDX HAADF imaging. They found be separated by a distance 1.5–3 their thickness lies 1–2 nm. Pillared more thermally stable higher temperatures.