Fig. 1 shows the XRD patterns for the Na+-Mt and the nanocomposite powders (PPH1, PPH3, PPH4.6, PPH10 and PPH12.5). The d001-spacing of the SPI/Mt nanocomposites prepared through solution intercalation can be calculated on the basis of Bragg's law [d001 = λ / (2sinθ)] according to the peak position. The basal spacing of pristine Na+–Mt was 1.4 nm from a diffraction peak at 2θ = 6.4o, whereas the Mt-free SPI powder shows no diffraction peak in the 2θ range from 1 to 10o. This indicates the soy