Hydrotalcites (HDTL) are layered double hydroxides of the anionic clay
family. They possess a large surface area, ability to accommodate divalent and trivalent
metallic ions, anion exchange capacity and intercalation ability. HDTL play a vital role
in nanotechnology, specifically in various nanomaterial production, functionalization,
and applications. HDTL nanohybrids with unique properties are created through
intercalation with various compounds like inorganic anions, organic anions,
biomolecules, active pharmaceutical ingredients, and dyes. Their adaptive layered
charge density and chemical combination constitute HDTL as resourceful materials
befitting for a broad spectrum of applications. There are a variety of methods for
preparing HDTL based nanomaterials, including co-precipitation, sol gel method, ion
exchange method, intercalation method and microwave assisted methods. The
morphologies of HDTL materials are characterised using technologies like X-ray
powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR),
Thermogravimetry coupled (TGA) with Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC),
Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM).
The nanocomposites of HDTL are widely used in the field of fine chemical synthesis,
pharmaceutical field, water purification, and agriculture. Biocompatible HDTL
nanostructures enticed remarkable attention in therapeutic and diagnostic functions.
HDTL nanohybrids are prominent bio reservoirs for drug and delivery systems and
used in cancer therapy. These materials have been utilised by bioimaging techniques
such as MRI and CT. The HDTL-based nanomaterials are effective adsorbents and find
widespread application in the water treatment industry. These are used for the
amelioration of polluted water by removing heavy metals, dyes, and other impurities.
These materials are also used as flame retardants, in porous ceramics, carbon dioxide
adsorption and deodorants. This chapter describes in detail about the preparation
methods, properties, structural characterisation, and wide applications of HDTL based
nanohybrids.
Keywords: Antibacterial, Biocompatibility, Bioimaging, Biosensors, Brucite, Co-precipitation, Cytotoxicity, Diagnostic, Drug delivery, Flame-retardants, Gene delivery, Intercalation, Ion-exchange, Layered Double Hydroxides, Nanocomposite, Photodynamic therapy, Porous ceramics, Theranostics, Therapeutic, Tissue engineering.
