The influence of zinc gluconate as an intercalating agent on the structural, thermal, morphologic, and molecular mobility of lamellar nanofiller

The purpose of this work was to investigate the influence of zinc gluconate (ZnG) as an intercalating agent on the properties of lamellar zirconium phosphate (α-ZrP). This nanofiller was synthesized by direct precipitation and it was evaluated as a host for zinc gluconate. Structural, thermal, morphology, and molecular mobility characteristics were assessed. Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) evidenced that the ZrP and ZnG strongly interacted to each other. Wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) showed a slight shift of ZrP hkl planes and missing of some ZnG diffraction. According to thermogravimetry, there were free and physically anchored ZnG molecules into ZrP. Scanning electron microscopy showed that ZnG is disorderly distributed among lamellar ZrP platelets. Hydrogen low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (1HLFNMR) revealed changes of α-ZrP molecular mobility. The material could be used potentially for drug control releasing.