Composites formed by layered double hydroxides with inorganic compounds: An overview of the synthesis methods and characteristics

•Various synthesis routes of hydrotalcite/inorganic compounds composites are described.•The synthesis route allows generating different morphologies of the composites.•The composites obtained exhibit multifunctional properties for different applications. Nowadays, layered double hydroxides (LDH), sometimes referred as hydrotalcite-like compounds, have gained great attention since their composition and structure can be easily modified, so that they can be implemented in multiple fields. LDH-based composite materials based on LDH exhibit tremendously improved properties such as high specific surface area, which promotes the accessibility to a greater number of LDH active sites, considerably improving their catalytic, adsorbent and biological activities. Therefore, this review summarizes and discusses the synthesis methods of composites constituted by LDH with other inorganic compounds such as zeolites, cationic clays, hydroxyapatites, among many others, and describe the resulting characteristics of the resulting composites, emphasizing the morphology. Brief descriptions of their properties and applications are also included. [Display omitted]