Flexible, transparent nanocomposite film with a large clay component and ordered structure obtained by a simple solution-casting method.

A flexible, transparent nanocomposite (NC) film with 57 wt % inorganic components was obtained by the simple casting of a solution of Laponite and modified organic molecules through a sol-gel reaction. The NC film has solvent resistance and a disco-nematic liquid-crystalline-like structure of Laponite that originates from the cross linking of Laponite by silanol agents and the large amount of Laponite in the film.