title: Surface functionalization of aluminosilicate nanotubes with organic molecules.
abstract: The surface functionalization of inorganic nanostructures is an effective approach for enriching the potential applications of existing nanomaterials. Inorganic nanotubes attract great research interest due to their one-dimensional structure and reactive surfaces. In this review paper, recent developments in surface functionalization of an aluminosilicate nanotube, "imogolite", are introduced. The functionalization processes are based on the robust affinity between phosphate groups of organic molecules and the aluminol (AlOH) surface of imogolite nanotubes. An aqueous modification process employing a water soluble ammonium salt of alkyl phosphate led to chemisorption of molecules on imogolite at the nanotube level. Polymer-chain-grafted imogolite nanotubes were prepared through surface-initiated polymerization. In addition, the assembly of conjugated molecules, 2-(5''-hexyl-2,2':5',2''-terthiophen-5-yl)ethylphosphonic acid (HT3P) and 2-(5''-hexyl-2,2':5',2''-terthiophen-5-yl)ethylphosphonic acid 1,1-dioxide (HT3OP), on the imogolite nanotube surface was achieved by introducing a phosphonic acid group to the corresponding molecules. The optical and photophysical properties of these conjugated-molecule-decorated imogolite nanotubes were characterized. Moreover, poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) chains were further hybridized with HT3P modified imogolite to form a nanofiber hybrid.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Materials Chemistry and Engineering, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Weng On
authors.initials: WO
authors.lastname: Yah
authors.forename: Hideyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Otsuka
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Takahara