Design and development of functional layered double hydroxide nanomaterials for advanced applications.

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) represent a large important class of anionic clay, which have received increasing attention in many fields owing to their distinguish properties. However, LDHs synthesized by conventional methods are seriously aggregated due to their high charge density of the metal hydroxide layers. It limits their functionalization and optimum performances in practical applications. The work in this thesis was focused on the synthesis of LDH based nanohybrids and films with good dispersion and order structures, and their functionalization with different properties for advanced applications in environmental and biomedical areas. It includes (a) the design of well-dispersed magnetic-LDH nanohybrids with excellent performance in the treatment of organic dyes; b) fabrication of high quality silver-decorated LDH coating on different substrates for surface antimicrobial application; (c) synthesis of well-dispersed 3D hierarchical LDH spheres for the removal of acidic pharmaceutical pollutants and (d) design of luminescent LDH-drug biovehicles for cancer treatment. It is believed that the findings in this work will greatly contribute towards a better design of functional nanomaterials for wider range of advanced applications.Doctor of Philosophy (SCBE