In situ study of small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) in nanostructured layered double hydroxides (LDHs)

The use of the Pluronic® P123 polymer (BASF) promotes the formation of wormlike surfactant micelles, which induce the formation of ZnAl LDH nanotubes doped with 5% Eu. In this system, in situ SAXS measurements represent a powerful tool, especially for understanding its formation in terms of particle size and morphology. The results indicated that, after the micelles self-assembly process, the LDH forms in the solution and later wraps around the micelles when its length reaches around 3 to 4 times the micelles diameter. However, it was not possible to confirm these indications, since the aggregation and polydispersity of the nanotubes constitute an obstacle. Previous results showed that electronic microscopy causes shrinking of the LDH nanotubes, limiting comparison between SAXS and TEM. Thus, along with new characterization techniques, further analysis with modeling that considers those factors is necessary to understand the morphology and formation of these materials through SAXS.