Effect of monobutylether ethylene glycol on Mg/Al layered double hydroxide: a physicochemical and conductivity study

Mg–Al hydrotalcite-like compounds with OH− ions intercalated in the gallery and modified with monobutylether ethylene glycol (mbeeg) were prepared from Mg6Al2(CO3)(OH)16·4H2O by the reconstruction method. The effect of the ethylene glycol, a moderate surfactant, on the textural properties and on the vapor water sorption of the layered double hydroxides was investigated by transmission electron microscopy and nitrogen and water sorption techniques. The ion conductivity of the samples was measured at 98 % RH up to 180 °C. The compounds are formed by nanoplatelets with a lateral size inferior to 20 nm. The addition of the ethylene glycol was found to increase the specific surface area, total pore volume, and water sorption capacity of the Mg–Al layered double hydroxide. However, it also decreased the average pore diameter, and the ion conductivity of the ethylene glycol modified layered double hydroxide was lower than expected based on the samples’ specific surface area and water content.