Intercalation of cyclic imides in kaolinite

The intercalation of two cyclic imides, succinimide and glutarimide, in the interlayer spaces of kaolinite was obtained from a "soft guest-displacement method" by displacing previously intercalated guest molecules. The dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)-kaolinite preintercalate was particularly efficient for that purpose. The intercalation exchange was done from a concentrated aqueous solution of the cyclic imides, at ambient temperature, in a relatively short time. Complete displacement of DMSO by the cyclic imides was confirmed by the results of several independent characterizations, including XRD, TG/DTA, FTIR, and (13)C MAS NMR analyses including dipolar dephasing experiments. The imide intercalates are two dimensionally constrained in the kaolinite interlayer spaces, and are structurally organized in a flattened configuration with their cycle roughly parallel to the ab plane of the kaolinite layers. Elemental analysis gives the following compositions: Al(2)Si(2)O(5)(OH)(4)(C(4)H(5)NO(2))(0.65) and Al(2)Si(2)O(5)(OH)(4)(C(5)H(7)NO(2))(0.49), respectively for succinimide and glutarimide. The results of the TG/DTA analyses showed enhanced thermal stabilities of the imide intercalates compared with the starting materials. The intercalation process from the aqueous solution is reversible: in prolonged contact with water, the imide molecules are released, resulting in the rebuilding of the kaolinite structure. These results demonstrate the potential use of kaolinite as a slow-releasing agent for molecules structurally related to the cyclic imides of this study.     

One-step exfoliation of kaolinites and their transformation into nanoscrolls

Kaolinite nanoscrolls, rolled kaolinite sheets with a tubular form, were prepared by a one-step route in which intercalation of guest species and swelling with solvent proceed at the same time. A methoxy-modified kaolinite was exfoliated by the intercalation of hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride. The formation of nanoscrolls by the one-step route proceeded only by several alkyltrimethylammonium salts and 1-hexadecyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride. Intercalation of primary amines caused the formation of nanoscrolls by a two-step route in which the intercalation and swelling proceed separately. The successful one-step route is ascribed to the relatively weak interactions between the head groups of guest species and the interlayer surface of methoxy-modified kaolinite, and the interaction is thought to allow the formation of a flexible array of interlayer guest species for swelling. The tubular structure was mostly retained after the heat treatment at 600 °C to form hierarchically porous aluminosilicates with amorphous frameworks. The nanoscrolls intercalated organic guests species, which are not directly intercalated into methoxy-modified kaolinite, between the scrolled layers. The formation route to nanoscrolls is quite dependent not only on the surface modification of kaolinite but also on the structure of guest species.     

Thermal decomposition and kinetics studies on poly(BDFAO/THF), poly(DFAMO/THF), and poly(BDFAO/DFAMO/THF)

The thermal behavior of kaolinite–urea intercalation complex was investigated by thermogravimetry–differential scanning calorimetry (TG–DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). In addition, the interaction mode of urea molecules intercalated into the kaolinite gallery was studied by means of molecular dynamics simulation. Three main mass losses were observed at 136 °C, in the range of 210–270 °C, and at 500 °C in the TG–DSC curves, which were, respectively, attributed to (1) melting of the surface-adsorbed urea, (2) removal of the intercalated urea, and (3) dehydroxylation of the deintercalated kaolinite. The three DSC endothermic peaks at 218, 250, and 261 °C were related to the successive removals of intercalated urea with three different distribution structures. Based on the angle between the dipole moment vector of urea and the basal surface of kaolinite, the three urea models could be described as follows: (1) Type A, the dipole moment vector is nearly parallel to the basal surface of kaolinite; (2) Type B, the dipole moment vector points to the silica tetrahedron with the angle between it and the basal surface of kaolinite ranging from 20°to 40°; and (3) Type C, the dipole moment vector is nearly perpendicular to the basal surface of kaolinite. The three distribution structures of urea molecules were validated by the results of the molecular dynamics simulation. Furthermore, the thermal behavior of the kaolinite–urea intercalation complex investigated by TG–DSC was also supported by FTIR and XRD analyses.     

Interactions between Nafion resin and protonated dodecylamine modified montmorillonite: a solid state NMR study

A series of nanocomposites have been prepared from perfluorosulfonylfluoride copolymer resin (Nafion) and layered montmorillonite (MMT) modified with protonated dodecylamine by conventional sol-gel intercalation. The structure of these nanocomposite materials have been characterized using FT-IR, elemental analysis, XRD and solid state NMR techniques, including 19F magic-angle spinning (MAS) NMR, 19F NMR relaxation time measurements, 29Si MAS, 1H MAS, 1H-13C cross-polarization magic-angle spinning (CPMAS), and 1H-13C heteronuclear correlation (HETCOR) 2D NMR. The results showed that thermal stability of Nafion was improved moderately by the addition of dodecylamine modified MMT without intercalation. FT-IR and 29Si MAS NMR results indicated that dodecylamine modification did not result in obvious changes in the MMT lattice structure. The XRD results showed that the protonated dodecylamine has been embedded and intercalated into the MMT interlayers, whereas Nafion was not. Elemental analysis results also suggested that some dodecylamine was adsorbed on the surface of MMT. 1H-13C HETCOR 2D NMR experiment clearly indicated that strong electrostatic interactions were present between the NH+3 group of dodecylamine and the fluorine-containing groups (CF3, OCF2, and SCF2) of Nafion resin. Such electrostatic interactions are probably the major contributors for the improved thermal stability of the resultant composite materials.     

高岭石插层效率评价

用基于X射线衍射分析(XRD)的插层率、基于热重分析(TGA)的热失重率和基于红外光谱分析(FTIR)的3 600 cm^-1谱带与3 700 cm^-1谱带强度比值对高岭石/二甲基亚砜(DMSO)插层复合物和高岭石/N-甲基甲酰胺(NMF)插层复合物的插层效率进行了综合评价。结果表明,当插层反应进行到1、6和25 d,高岭石/DMSO的插层率分别为5%、52%和89%;而高岭石/NMF的插层率则分别为93%、94%和95%。与此同时,高岭石/DMSO的热失重率分别为1.06%、8.06%和17.46%;而高岭石/NMF的失重率分别为6%、6.5%和14.2%。在红外光谱图中,高岭石/DMSO复合物的3 600与3 700 cm^-1带强度比分别为1.03,1.141和1.628,而高岭石/NMF复合物分别为1.403,1.433和1.612。3种评价方法显示很好的一致性,相对而言,在插层作用的初期,XRD方法比较灵敏,而在插层作用的后期,TGA和FTIR方法则显得更为灵敏和有效。     

Structure of a cyclodextrin functionalized anionic clay: XRD analysis, spectroscopy, and computer simulations

Carboxy-methyl beta-cyclodextrin (CMCD) cavities have been intercalated within the galleries of anionic clay, Mg-Al layered double hydroxide (LDH). The cyclodextrin functionalized LDH has been reported to adsorb neutral and nonpolar guest molecules. X-ray diffraction, IR, and Raman vibrational spectroscopy and (13)C CPMAS NMR have been used to characterize the confined CMCD molecules, whereas molecular dynamics simulations have been used to probe the interlayer arrangement and orientation of the intercalated species. Spectroscopic measurements as well as MD simulations show that there is no significant change in the geometry of the CMCD cavity on intercalation. Within the galleries of the anionic clay, the CMCD anions are arranged as bilayers with the carboxy methyl substituents, located at the narrower opening of the bucket-like cyclodextrin toroid, anchored to the LDH sheet. This arrangement leaves the wider opening of the CMCD anion facing away from the layers allowing the interior of the cyclodextrin cavity to be accessible to guest molecules. Finally, the hydrophobicity of the anchored cyclodextrin cavity has been characterized using fluorescence from pyrene included within it.     

Thermal behavior analysis of kaolinite–dimethylsulfoxide intercalation complex

The thermal behavior of kaolinite?Cdimethylsulfoxide intercalation complex was investigated by thermogravimetry (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, and Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopic analysis. The samples gradually heated up to different temperatures were studied by XRD and FT-IR. The kaolinite?Cdimethylsulfoxide intercalation complex is stable below 130?°C. With the rise in the temperature, the relative intensity of the 1.124-nm peak gradually decreased and disappeared at 200?°C, however, the intensity of the 0.714?nm peak increased in the XRD patterns. In the infrared spectra, the appearance of methyl bands at 3018, 2934, 1428, and 1318?cm^?1 indicates the presence of intercalated dimethylsulfoxide, the intensities of these bands decreased with the temperature rising and remained until around 175?°C, which agree with the XRD and TG?CDSC data.     

Intercalation mechanism and interlayer structure of hexadecylamines in the confined space of layered alpha-zirconium phosphates

Well-defined hexadecylamine (HDA) intercalated structures, either interdigitated layers, bilayers, or hybrid layers of both, in a confined space of highly functionalized layered alpha-zirconium phosphates (alpha-ZrPs) have been prepared based on the two-step intercalation mechanism and these distinct intercalated structures can serve as a model system to investigate the interactions of two monolayers whose amphiphilic tails are adjacent to each other. At the first intercalation step, the electrostatic interaction between HDAs and alpha-ZrP is dominant and results in an interdigitated layer structure (d(001) = 3.0 nm) and the interdigitated layer is saturated at around phi = 50%, where phi is the weight fraction of intercalated HDAs in the intergallery of alpha-ZrP. For phi higher than 50%, the bilayer structure (d(001) = 4.3 nm) emerges due to further hydrophobic interaction between HDAs initially grafted to alpha-ZrP and unanchored HDAs and the relative fraction of the bilayer structure over the interdigitated layer increases with the increase in the intercalated amount of HDAs. The intriguing morphology of alpha-ZrP tactoids intercalated with HDAs in coexisting bilayers and interdigitated layers is observed by using microtomed TEM and the two-step intercalation has also been verified with TGA and FT-IR. Also, a structural transition from the bilayers to the interdigitated layers is monitored by using in situ synchrotron WAXS showing that the hydrophobically intercalated HDAs are selectively deintercalated at a relatively low decomposition temperature around 220 degrees C.     

Amide-induced phase separation of hexafluoroisopropanol-water mixtures depending on the hydrophobicity of amides

Amide-induced phase separation of hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFIP)-water mixtures has been investigated to elucidate solvation properties of the mixtures by means of small-angle neutron scattering (SANS), (1)H and (13)C NMR, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. The amides included N-methylformamide (NMF), N-methylacetamide (NMA), and N-methylpropionamide (NMP). The phase diagrams of amide-HFIP-water ternary systems at 298 K showed that phase separation occurs in a closed-loop area of compositions as well as an N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) system previously reported. The phase separation area becomes wider as the hydrophobicity of amides increases in the order of NMF < NMA < DMF < NMP. Thus, the evolution of HFIP clusters around amides due to the hydrophobic interaction gives rise to phase separation of the mixtures. In contrast, the disruption of HFIP clusters causes the recovery of the homogeneity of the ternary systems. The present results showed that HFIP clusters are evolved with increasing amide content to the lower phase separation concentration in the same mechanism among the four amide systems. However, the disruption of HFIP clusters in the NMP and DMF systems with further increasing amide content to the upper phase separation concentration occurs in a different way from those in the NMF and NMA systems.     

Mechanism of dehydroxylation temperature decrease and high temperature phase transition of coal-bearing strata kaolinite intercalated by potassium acetate

The thermal decomposition and dehydroxylation process of coal-bearing strata kaolinite-potassium acetate intercalation complex (CSKK) has been studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (IR), thermal analysis, mass spectrometric analysis and infrared emission spectroscopy. The XRD results showed that the potassium acetate (KAc) have been successfully intercalated into coal-bearing strata kaolinite with an obvious basal distance increase of the first basal peak, and the positive correlation was found between the concentration of intercalation regent KAc and the degree of intercalation. As the temperature of the system is raised, the formation of KHCO(3), KCO(3) and KAlSiO(4), which is derived from the thermal decomposition or phase transition of CSKK, is observed in sequence. The IR results showed that new bands appeared, the position and intensities shift can also be found when the concentration of intercalation agent is raised. The thermal analysis and mass spectrometric analysis results revealed that CSKK is stable below 300°C, and the thermal decomposition products (H(2)O and CO(2)) were further proved by the mass spectrometric analysis. A comparison of thermal analysis results of original coal-bearing strata kaolinite and its intercalation complex gives new discovery that not only a new mass loss peak is observed at 285 °C, but also the temperature of dehydroxylation and dehydration of coal bearing strata kaolinite is decreased about 100 °C. This is explained on the basis of the interlayer space of the kaolinite increased obviously after being intercalated by KAc, which led to the interlayer hydrogen bonds weakened, enables the dehydroxylation from kaolinite surface more easily. Furthermore, the possible structural model for CSKK has been proposed, with further analysis required in order to prove the most possible structures.     

A DRIFT spectroscopic study of potassium acetate intercalated mechanochemically activated kaolinite

Kaolinite has been mechanochemically activated by dry grinding for periods of time up to 10 h. The kaolinite was then intercalated with potassium acetate and the changes in the structure followed by DRIFT spectroscopy. Intercalation of the kaolinite with potassium acetate is difficult and only the layers, which remain hydrogen bonded, are intercalated. The mechanochemical activation of the kaolinite may be followed by the loss of intensity of the hydroxyl-stretching vibrations. The intensity of the 3695 and 3619 cm(-1) bands reach a minimum after 10 h of grinding. The observation of a band at 3602 cm(-1) is indicative of the intercalation of the kaolinite with potassium acetate. The degree of intercalation decreases with mechanochemical treatment. The effect of exposure of the intercalated mechanochemically activated kaolinite to moist air results in de-intercalation. The effect of the mechanochemical treatment is loss of layer stacking, which prevents the intercalation of the kaolinite.     

Formation and characterization of inclusion complexes of poly(butylene succinate) with alpha- and gamma-cyclodextrins

The inclusion complexes (ICs) of alpha- and gamma-cyclodextrins (CDs) with high-molecular-weight poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) were prepared and characterized by differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), wide-angle X-ray diffraction, solid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and solution 1H NMR spectroscopy. The resultant ICs were found to have channel structures. FT-IR data suggested that the ICs were stabilized by hydrogen bonds between the host CD molecules and the guest PBS chains. Through the formation of ICs, the PBS chain possibly adopts the kink conformation in the included state, as indicated by NMR analysis.     

Complexity of intercalation of hydrazine into kaolinite--a controlled rate thermal analysis and DRIFT spectroscopic study

Controlled rate thermal analysis (CRTA) allows the separation of adsorbed and intercalated hydrazine. CRTA displays the presence of three different types of hydrogen-bonded hydrazine in the intercalation complex: (a) The first is adsorbed loosely bonded on the kaolinite structure fully expanded by hydrazine-hydrate and liberated between approx 50 and 70 degrees C (b) The second intercalated hydrazine is lost between approx 70 and 85 degrees C. (c) The third type of intercalated-hydrazine molecule is lost in the 85-130 degrees C range. CRTA at 70 degrees C enables the removal of hydrazine-water and results in the partial collapse of the hydrazine-intercalated kaolinite structure to form a hydrazine-intercalated kaolinite. Removal of the adsorbed hydrazine enables the DRIFT spectra of the hydrazine-intercalated complex without any adsorbed hydrazine to be obtained. A band at 3626 cm(-1) attributed to the inner surface hydroxyls of kaolinite hydrogen bonded to hydrazine is observed. The intercalation of hydrazine-hydrate into kaolinite is complex and results from the different types of surface interactions of the hydrazine with the kaolinite surfaces.     

Use of Fe(3+) ion probe to study the stability of urea-intercalated kaolinite by electron paramagnetic resonance

The effect of mechanical and chemical activation in processes of urea intercalation in the interlayer spacing of kaolinite and the effect of varying the temperature of the intercalation product between 100 and 200 degrees C were studied using Fe(3+) ions as a probe in electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. Other techniques were also used to characterize the samples. Monitoring the heating of urea-intercalated kaolinite, FTIR, and XRD revealed that the product obtained was stable up to a temperature of 150-160 degrees C. The EPR data indicated that the intercalation process promoted an approximation and increase of the magnetic interactions among the Fe(3+) ions. The DRUV-vis analysis of the product before heating showed an absorption band at 680 nm that was absent in the raw kaolinite. This band was attributed to the transition A(1)6-->T(2)4(G4) in the adjacent Fe(3+) ions, intensified by magnetic coupling among these ions. We suggest that intercalated urea forms hydrogen bonds between the carbonyl's oxygen and the hydroxyls bound to the Fe(3+) ions of the kaolinite structure. This would cause the approximation of the Fe(3+) ions, maximizing magnetic couplings and intensifying concentrated centers of Fe(3+), as was visible by EPR spectroscopy.     

Application of thermal analysis for the characterisation of intercalated and grafted organo-kaolinite nanohybrid materials

Nanohybrid materials resulting from the intercalation of ionic liquids or from the grafting of aminoalcohols into the interlayer space of kaolinite pre-intercalated with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), were successfully synthesized. Thermal analysis (TG and DTA) data, coupled with X-ray diffraction (XRD) data, and ¹³C MAS-NMR spectroscopic analysis, as well as with hydrolysis reactions, were used for qualitative and quantitative characterisations. In the case of intercalated nanohybrid materials obtained by insertion of ionic liquids and of ethanolamine into the interlayer spaces of kaolinite upon displacement of DMSO, no major changes in the dehydroxylation temperature of the layer sheets could be observed. The stoichiometry of the intercalated organo-kaolinite materials was obtained from several independent measurements (TG, CHN) and theoretical calculation (THM). They were in good agreement. Grafted nanohybrid materials resulting from the formation of a covalent bond between the hydroxyl groups of diethanolamine and triethanolamine and the internal surfaces aluminol groups of kaolinite exhibited a significantly lower dehydroxylation temperature. A combined approach of hydrolysis reactions and TG analysis allows an unambiguous distinction between grafted and intercalated organo-kaolinite nanohybrid materials.     

Effect of structural stress on the intercalation rate of kaolinite

Particle size in kaolinite intercalation showed an inverse reactivity trend compared with most chemical reactions: finer particles had lower reactivity and some of the fine particles cannot be intercalated. Although this phenomenon was noted in the early 1960s and several hypotheses have been reported, there is no widely accepted theory about the unusual particle size response in the intercalation. We propose that structural stress is a controlling factor in the intercalation and the stress contributes to the higher reactivity of the coarser particles. In this study, we checked the structural deformation spectroscopically and indirectly proved the structural stress hypothesis. A Georgia kaolinite was separated into nine size fractions and their intercalations by hydrazine monohydrate and potassium acetate were investigated with X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) analyses. The apical Si-O band of kaolinite at 1115 cm(-1) shifted to 1124 cm(-1) when the mineral was intercalated to 1.03 nm by hydrazine monohydrate, and its strong pleochroic properties became much weaker. Similar reduction in pleochroism was observed on the surface OH bands of kaolinite after intercalation. Both the bending vibrations of the inner OH group at 914 cm(-1) and of the surface OH group at 937 cm(-1) shifted to 903 cm(-1) after intercalation by hydrazine. A new band for the inner OH group appeared at 3611 cm(-1) during the deintercalation of the 1.03 nm hydrazine kaolinite complex. Pleochroism change in the apical Si-O band suggested the tetrahedra had increased tilt with respect to the (001) plane. The tilt of the Si-O apical bond could occur only if the octahedra had also undergone structural rearrangement during intercalation. These changes in the octahedral and tetrahedral sheets represent some change in the manner of compensation for the structural misfit of the tetrahedral sheet and octahedral sheet. As the lateral dimensions of a kaolinite particle increases, the cumulative degree of misfit increases. Intercalation breaks the hydrogen bonds between layers and allows for the structure to reduce the accumulated stress in some other manner. The reversed size effect on intercalation probably was not caused by crystallinity differences as reported in the literature, because the Hinckley and Lietard crystallinity indices of the four clay fractions were very close to each other. Impurities, such as dickite- or nacrite-like phases are not significant in the studied sample as suggested by the XRD and IR results, they are not the main reasons for the lower reactivity of the finer particles.     

Intercalation chemistry of layered vanadyl phosphate: a review

The intercalation chemistry of layered α_I modification of vanadyl phosphate and vanadyl phosphate dihydrate is reviewed. The focus is on neutral molecular guests and on metal cations used as guest species. The basic condition for the ability of the neutral molecules to be intercalated into vanadyl phosphate is a presence of an electron donor atom in them. The most commonly used guest compounds are those containing oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur as electron donor atoms. Regarding the molecules containing oxygen, various compounds were used as molecular guests starting from water to alcohols, ethers, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, lactones, and esters. An arrangement of the guest molecules in the interlayer space is discussed in connection with the data obtained by powder X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry, IR and Raman spectroscopies, and solid-state NMR. In some cases, the local structure was suggested on the basis of quantum chemical calculations. Besides of those O-donor guests, also N-donor guests such as amines, nitriles and nitrogenous heterocycles and S-donor guests such as tetrathiafulvalene were intercalated into VOPO₄. Also intercalates of complexes like ferrocene were prepared. Intercalation of cations is accompanied by a reduction of vanadium(V) to vanadium(IV). In this kind of intercalation reactions, an iodide of the intercalated cation is often used as it serves both as a mild reduction agent and as a source of the intercalated species. Intercalates of alkali metals, hydronium and ammonium were prepared and characterized. In the case of lithium and sodium intercalates, a staging phenomenon was observed. These redox intercalated vanadyl phosphates undergo ion exchange reactions which are discussed from the point of the nature of cations involved in the exchange. Vanadyl phosphates in which a part of vanadium atom is replaced by other metals are also briefly reviewed.     

Multicomponent host-guest chemistry of carboxylic acid and phosphonic acid based guests with dendritic hosts: an NMR study

A new way to analyze supramolecular dendritic architectures is reported by making use of (13)C NMR and (31)P NMR. Two ethylene glycol guest molecules have been synthesized containing a (13)C labeled carboxylic acid headgroup (2) and a phosphonic acid headgroup (3). The binding of these guests to urea-adamantyl modified poly(propylene imine) dendrimers has been investigated with (13)C NMR and (31)P NMR next to 1D and 2D (1)H NMR techniques. Different amounts of guest 2 have been added to fifth generation dendrimer 1e, and the observed chemical shift values in (13)C NMR were fitted to a model that assumes 1:1 binding between guest and binding site. An association constant of 400 +/- 95 M(-)(1) is obtained for guest 2 with 41 binding sites per dendrimer. When different amounts of phosphonic acid guest 3 are added to dendrimer 1e, two different signals are observed in (31)P NMR. Deconvolution gives the fractions of free and bound guest, resulting in an association constant of (4 +/- 3) x 10(4) M(-)(1) and 61 +/- 1 binding sites. A statistical analysis shows that guest 2 forms a "polydisperse supramolecular aggregate", while guest 3 is able to form a "monodisperse supramolecular aggregate" when the amount of guest is high enough. The NMR results are compared with dynamic light scattering experiments, and a remarkable agreement is found. Phosphonic acid guest 3 is able to exchange with guest 2, which is in agreement with the obtained association constants, and shows that these techniques can be used to analyze multicomponent dendritic aggregates.     

Reactivity of ionic liquids with kaolinite: melt intersalation of ethyl pyridinium chloride in an urea-kaolinite pre-intercalate

This paper reports a new route for the intercalation of an ionic liquid, namely 1-ethyl pyridinium chloride, into the interlamellar spaces of kaolinite. The intercalation was achieved using a kaolinite-urea intercalate as a starting material. The results of the XRD, FTIR, and TGA analyses confirmed the intercalation of ethyl pyridinium in the interlamellar spaces of kaolinite. 13C CP/MAS spectra indicated the complete displacement of urea by ethyl pyridinium. 29Si and 27Al NMR spectra of the starting materials and the products are also discussed as well as the results of the elemental analysis of the produced nanohybrid material.     

Insight into the thermal decomposition of kaolinite intercalated with potassium acetate: an evolved gas analysis

The thermal decomposition process of kaolinite–potassium acetate intercalation complex has been studied using simultaneous thermogravimetry coupled with Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and mass spectrometry (TG-FTIR-MS). The results showed that the thermal decomposition of the complex took place in four temperature ranges, namely 50–100, 260–320, 320–550, and 650–780 °C. The maximal mass losses rate for the thermal decomposition of the kaolinite–potassium acetate intercalation complex was observed at 81, 296, 378, 411, 486, and 733 °C, which was attributed to (a) loss of the adsorbed water, (b) thermal decomposition of surface-adsorbed potassium acetate (KAc), (c) the loss of the water coordinated to potassium acetate in the intercalated kaolinite, (d) the thermal decomposition of intercalated KAc in the interlayer of kaolinite and the removal of inner surface hydroxyls, (e) the loss of the inner hydroxyls, and (f) the thermal decomposition of carbonate derived from the decomposition of KAc. The thermal decomposition of intercalated potassium acetate started in the range 320–550 °C accompanied by the release of water, acetone, carbon dioxide, and acetic acid. The identification of pyrolysis fragment ions provided insight into the thermal decomposition mechanism. The results showed that the main decomposition fragment ions of the kaolinite–KAc intercalation complex were water, acetone, carbon dioxide, and acetic acid. TG-FTIR-MS was demonstrated to be a powerful tool for the investigation of kaolinite intercalation complexes. It delivers a detailed insight into the thermal decomposition processes of the kaolinite intercalation complexes characterized by mass loss and the evolved gases.