Sylvia Britto

Structure of Bayerite-Based Lithium-Aluminum Layered Double Hydroxides (LDHs): Observation of Monoclinic Symmetry

The double hydroxides of Li with Al, obtained by the imbibition of Li salts into bayerite and gibbsite-Al(OH)(3), are not different polytypes of the same symmetry but actually crystallize in two different symmetries. The bayerite-derived double hydroxides crystallize with monoclinic symmetry, while the gibbsite-derived hydroxides crystallize with hexagonal symmetry. Successive metal hydroxide layers in the bayerite-derived LDHs are translated by the vector ( approximately -1/3, 0, 1) with respect to each other. The exigency of hydrogen bonding drives the intercalated Cl(-) ion to a site with 2-fold coordination, whereas the intercalated water occupies a site with 6-fold coordination having a pseudotrigonal prismatic symmetry. The nonideal nature of the interlayer sites has implications for the observed selectivity of Li-Al LDHs toward anions of different symmetries.

Synthesis and anion exchange reactions of a layered copper-zinc hydroxy double salt, Cu1.6Zn0.4(OH)3(OAc)·H2O

A mixed-metal hydroxysalt of formula Cu1.6Zn0.4(OH)3(OAc)·H2O has been synthesized by an acetate hydrolysis route. Acetate ions can be exchanged with simple inorganic anions such as chloride and nitrate, and organic anions such as benzoate and large surfactant anions such as dodecyl sulphate. Structures of these hydroxysalts are derived from that of Cu2(OH)3NO3·H2O with some of the Cu2+ ions being replaced by Zn2+.

Solution decomposition of the layered double hydroxide of Co with Fe: Phase segregation of normal and inverse spinels

The nitrate-intercalated layered double hydroxide of Co with Fe decomposes on hydrothermal treatment to yield an oxide residue at a temperature as low as 180 degrees C. The oxide product is phase segregated into a Co(3)O(4)-type normal spinel and a CoFe(2)O(4)-type inverse spinel. Phase segregation is facilitated as decomposition in a solution medium takes place by dissolution of the precursor hydroxide followed by reprecipitation of the oxide phases. In contrast, thermal decomposition takes place at 400 degrees C. This temperature is inadequate to induce diffusion in the solid state whereby phase segregation into the thermodynamically stable individual spinels is suppressed. The result is a single-phase metastable mixed spinel oxide. This is rather uncommon in that a hydrothermal treatment yields thermodynamically stable products where as thermal decomposition yields a metastable product.