Interdigitated crystalline MMT‐MCA: Preparation and characterization

A novel nanomaterial, montmorillonite–melamine cyanurate (MMT-MCA), was successfully synthesized, in which the number of MCA layers in between 2 MMT layers can be controlled at 1 or a very large value (over 100 nm thick). Its interdigitated crystalline structure was thoroughly characterized. The MMT-MCA shows outstanding dispersion ability in different polymers to easily prepare MMT nanocomposites by melt blending due to the π-π stacking exfoliation between MCA layers. The paper opens the way to the synthesis of novel interdigitated nanomaterials.