“…12 Depending on the concentration of polymer and clay, the polymer type and molecular weight, the clay size, shape and surface chemistry, one may generate a variety of dispersions, 13,14 solutions, 15 smart gels, 16,18 shake gels, 19,20 glues [16][17][18] and gum-like gels [16][17][18]21,22 all of which may be excellent precursors for hierarchically structured bulk materials. 23,24 Some of these soft and hard nanocomposite materials are sensitive to external stimuli including light, temperature, pH, salt concentration, shear, pressure and electric fields, leading to novel properties that attract much scientific and technological interest. 21,24 To examine the polymer-clay interactions, a combination of methods is advisable.…”