Electrophoretic deposition of organically modified gibbsite nanocomposites with liquid crystalline character

A scalable synthetic approach was developed for the purpose of producing nanoplatelet composites with nacre-like structural organization. Gibbsite nanoplatelets were first synthesized and then organically modified to provide stable suspensions in organic solvents. The nanoplatelets were subsequently deposited from select organic phases using nonaqueous electrophoretic methods. The electrophoresis was carried out in the presence of organic diacrylate monomer resins that were ultimately retained to form thick (ca. 10–1,000 μm) nanocomposite films. The resulting optically transparent films exhibited a high solids loading (>40 % by volume) and a layered morphology consistent with colloidal liquid crystal systems. Following release from the conductive substrate, the deposited films were rolled, pressed, and polymerized to form bulk nanocomposites with improved strength and elastic modulus. The stratified organization of the nanoplatelets was successfully preserved throughout the processing steps. The deposition method is useful for the continuous production of bulk nanocomposites, and the resulting materials serve as a platform for further developments with alternative nanoplatelets possessing improved mechanical properties and optical transparency.