Selective Localization of Ni Nanoparticles on the Janus Surfaces of Kaolinite Nanoscrolls and Their DRM Catalytic Performance

Kaolinite nanoscrolls are intriguing hollow tubular structures with asymmetric exterior and interior surfaces that show good potential in a variety of applications. However, the property differences between the exterior and interior surfaces are often neglected. Theoretically, these property differences may facilitate the selective loading of active components on either surface of the kaolinite nanoscroll, which would be conducive to the study of certain catalytic reactions. Herein, the hydrophilic/hydrophobic properties of the exterior and interior surfaces of modified kaolinite nanoscrolls (MKNS) were investigated, and a strategy to selectively load Ni nanoparticles based on the amphiphilic Janus MKNS was proposed. Through this strategy, nickel nanoparticles could be roughly selectively loaded on the exterior and interior surfaces of kaolinite nanoscrolls (named NiE/KNS and NiI/KNS), respectively. Subsequently, NiE/KNS and NiI/KNS were used as catalysts for the dry reforming of methane (DRM) reaction. The results demonstrated that the loading position of the active nickel nanoparticles could significantly affect the DRM performance of the catalysts due to the Janus property of KNS. This strategy could provide valuable inspiration for the design of multifunctional materials.