Intercalation of Anionic Oxalato Complexes into Layered Double Hydroxides

Intercalation compounds of layered double hydroxide (LDH), MII1−xMIIIx(OH)2Ax/y·nH2O (with MII=Zn, Cu and MIII=Al, Cr, Ga), with oxalato complexes of aluminium, gallium, chromium, copper, and beryllium, were obtained via anion-exchange processes. Powder X-ray diffraction indicated that the intercalation reactions were successful. The basal spacings measured after intercalation are near 0.98±0.02 nm, whatever the host matrix composition. Studies by FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the intercalation of the oxalato complex, too. In order to study the thermal decomposition of the exchanged products, TGA-coupled mass spectrometry was performed.