Polymer layered double hydroxide hybrid nanocomposites

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) are prepared by crystallizing of metal hydroxides in the form of mineral brucite with the insertion of interlayer anionic species. These compounds, with peculiar properties such as high chemical stability, biocompatibility, anion exchange capacity, and nontoxicity, are promising candidates for the preparation of polymer nanofiller hybrid composites. Recent studies have shown that the potential performance of LDH can be significantly improved by supporting/combining it with high-surface-area materials such as carbonaceous nanomaterials. Polymer/LDH/carbonaceous nanofiller hybrid nanocomposites, due to the special method of fabrication and characterization, as well as capacity development of new composite materials, have enticed enormous interest from industries and academic areas. This chapter deals with the most current progresses in the incorporation of LDHs and modified LDHs with carbonaceous nanomaterials in the extensive groups of polymers as matrix, through the approaches for inspecting the structural characteristics and chemical functionalization for various utilizations.