Although various hybrid 3D carbon-based architectures are reported by covalently connecting low dimensional carbon allotropes, the effect of junction configuration on deformation and mechanical properties of the hybrid carbon architectures remain elusive. Here, we focus on Pillared Graphene Nanostructure (PGN) as a model system with symmetric and asymmetric junctions to explore its diverse elas...

Two novel lead(II) carboxyphosphonates with a layered and a 3D framework structure, namely, [Pb2Cl3(H2L)]·H2O (1) and [Pb2(HL)(HBTC)] (2) (H3L = H2O3PCH2-NC5H9-COOH, H3BTC = 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid), have been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions and structurally characterized. For compound 1, the interconnection of Pb(1)O2Cl3, Pb(2)O2Cl3, and CPO3 polyhedra via corner- and edge-sh...

The catalytic behavior of Brønsted acid sites in three acidic zeolite materials (one MWW and two MFI zeolites) containing dual meso-/microporosity was studied using ethanol dehydration and monomolecular conversion of propane and isobutane as probe reactions. The meso-/microporous MWW zeolite, MCM-36 or pillared MWW, consists of a zeolitic layer structure, with independent microporosity and meso...

SiO(2) pillared layered titanate (SiO(2)-H(2)Ti(4)O(9)) was prepared via intercalating organosilanes into the interlayers of the layered K(2)Ti(4)O(9) followed by calcination at 500 degrees C. The resulting materials were characterized using XRD, N(2) adsorption-desorption isotherms, UV-vis spectra, IR spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity of SiO(2)-H(2)Ti(4)O(9) was ...

Many termite species use clay to build foraging galleries and mound-nests. In some cases clay is placed within excavations of their wooden food, such as living trees or timber in buildings; however the purpose for this clay is unclear. We tested the hypotheses that termites can identify load bearing wood, and that they use clay to provide mechanical support of the load and thus allow them to ea...

Clay mineral-containing nanocomposite hydrogels have been proven to have exceptional composition, properties, and applications, and consequently have attracted a significant amount of research effort over the past few years. The objective of this paper is to summarize and evaluate scientific advances in clay mineral-containing nanocomposite hydrogels in terms of their specific preparation, form...

The aim of this study was the preparation of polyethylene oxide (PEO)/clay nanocomposites using organoclay produced via micellar adsorption of cethyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) and their characterisation by X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra, and the investigation of certain mechanical properties of the composites. The results show that the basal dista...

A method of clay mineral sample preparation for electron microprobe analysis has been developed in which a film of clay plus 10-12 wt. % colloidal graphite is deposited on a porous ceramic disc using a specially designed suction device. Correction procedures are used to obtain quantitative elemental analyses representing the average chemical composition of the prepared sample. A statistical tec...

Clay content (fraction < 2 μm) is one of the most important soil properties. It controls soil hydraulic properties like wilting point, field capacity and saturated hydraulic conductivity, which in turn control the various fluxes of water in the unsaturated zone. In our study site, the Kairouan plain in central Tunisia, existing soil maps are neither exhaustive nor sufficiently precise for water...