Thermally Induced Polytype Transformations among the Layered Double Hydroxides (LDHs) of Mg and Zn with Al

Chemical and Structural Transformations of M-Al-CO3 Layered Double Hydroxides (M = Mg, Zn, or Co, M/Al = 2) at Elevated Temperatures: Quantitative Descriptions and Effect of Divalent Cations

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) exhibit diverse chemical compositions and are being designed for promising applications such as CO2 adsorbents. Although many researchers have analyzed CO2 gas evolution and structural transformation behavior at elevated temperatures, there are still inconsistencies in results on the effect of different metal ions in LDHs. In this study, on the basis of atomic/molecular-level findings from our previous study on multistep structural/chemical transformation of Mg-Al LDHs, we analyzed the quantitative gas evolution behavior and structural transformations of M-Al-CO3 LDHs with different divalent metal ions (M = Mg, Zn, or Co, M/Al = 2) at elevated temperatures. Our quantitative analysis revealed that all three LDH samples undergo the three-step chemical transformations: release of interlayer water, partial dehydroxylation of the hydroxyl layers, and complete dehydroxylation of layers and decomposition of interlayer CO32-. However, the temperature range for each step differs, as do the structural transformations for each sample: the layered structure collapses in the first step for Zn-Al LDH and Co-Al LDH, and the third step for Mg-Al LDH. Our results provide for quantitative and concrete understanding of the effect of divalent metal ions in LDHs on thermal decomposition.

Layer-Stacking Sequence Governs Ion-Storage in Layered Double Hydroxides

In layered materials, the layer-stacking sequence allows the tuning of ion transport and storage properties by modulating the host-ion interactions. However, unlike in the case of cations, the relationship between the stacking sequence and anion transport and storage properties is less clearly understood. Herein, we demonstrate that the stacking sequence governs the nitrate-storage properties of layered double hydroxides (LDHs); the 2H₁ polytype enhances the nitrate-storage capacity to 400% of that of the 3R₁ polytype. A quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring combined with multimodal ex situ experiments indicated that the high ion-storage capacity of the 2H₁ polytype originates from the soft nature of LDHs lattices, which facilitates nitrate with minimal lattice changes. In contrast, the rigid lattice of the 3R₁ sequence requires a notably large lattice expansion, which is detrimental to ion storage. Our findings can aid the rational design of anion-host interaction-derived functionalities.

Critical role of water structure around interlayer ions for ion storage in layered double hydroxides

Water-containing layered materials have found various applications such as water purification and energy storage. The highly structured water molecules around ions under the confinement between the layers determine the ion storage ability. Yet, the relationship between the configuration of interlayer ions and water structure in high ion storage layered materials is elusive. Herein, using layered double hydroxides, we demonstrate that the water structure is sensitive to the filling density of ions in the interlayer space and governs the ion storage. For ion storage of dilute nitrate ions, a 24% decrease in the filling density increases the nitrate storage capacity by 300%. Quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring studies, combined with multimodal ex situ experiments and theoretical calculations, reveal that the decreasing filling density effectively facilitates the 2D hydrogen-bond networking structure in water around interlayer nitrate ions along with minimal change in the layered structure, leading to the high storage capacity.

Use of Ethylamine, Diethylamine and Triethylamine in the Synthesis of Zn,Al Layered Double Hydroxides

Amines with two carbon atoms in the organic chain [ethylamine (EA), diethylamine (DEA), triethylamine (TEA)] have been used as precipitant agents to obtain a hydrotalcite-like compound with Zn (II) and Al (III) as layered cations and with nitrate anions in the interlayered region to balance the charge. This Layered Double Hydroxide was prepared following the coprecipitation method, and the effect on the crystal and particle sizes was studied. Also, the effect of submitting the obtained solids to hydrothermal post-synthesis treatment by conventional heating and microwave assisted heating were studied. The obtained solids were exhaustively characterized using several instrumental techniques, such as X-ray diffraction, Thermal Analysis (DTA and TG), Chemical Analysis, Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), determination of Particle Size Distribution and BET-Surface area. Well crystallized solids were obtained showing two possible LDH phases, depending on the orientation of the interlayer anion with respect to the brucite-like layers. The results indicated that there is a certain influence of the amine, when used as a precipitating agent, and as a consequence of the degree of substitution, on the crystallinity and particle size of the final solid obtained. The LDHs obtained using TEA exhibited higher crystallinity, which was improved after a long hydrothermal treatment by conventional heating. Regarding the shape of the particles, the formation of aggregates in the former solid was detected, which could be easily disintegrated using ultrasound treatments, producing solid powder with high crystallinity and small particle size, with homogeneous size distribution.

Adsorption of phosphate from aqueous solution by vegetable biochar/layered double oxides: Fast removal and mechanistic studies

Two biochars, from Chinese cabbage (Cc, Brassica rapa pekinensis) and rape (Ra, Brassia campestris L.), were used to prepare biochar/Mg-Al layered double oxides (LDOs) as adsorbents for phosphate removal from aqueous solution. The biochar/LDOs were horizontally alternated lamellar particles and had abundant groups of oxides and biochars. The phosphate removal percentage remained above 92% at a pH range of 2-10, and above 95% during the first 5 min for 50 mg/L phosphate by 0.05 g biochar/LDOs. The adsorption kinetics and isotherms data were well fitted by the pseudo-second-order kinetic equation, as well as by the Freundlich and Langmuir models. Based on FTIR, XPS, and zeta potential analysis, the interaction mechanisms were defined as "memory effect", electrostatic attraction, surface complexation, and anion exchange. The results indicate that vegetable biochar/LDOs can be considered a novel and efficient sorbent for phosphate removal from water or wastewater.

Characterization of CMC–LDH beads and their application in the removal of Cr(vi) from aqueous solution

In this study, CMC–LDH beads were prepared and characterized using SEM, FTIR and TG analysis. The beads were applied for the removal of Cr(vi) from aqueous solution. The effects of adsorbent dosage, initial pH and initial concentration of Cr(vi) solution on Cr(vi) uptake were investigated in detail. Moreover, adsorption isotherms and adsorption kinetic models were employed to analyze the adsorption process, and a preliminary study of the reusability of the adsorbent was performed. The experimental results showed that the CMC–LDH beads could remove Cr(vi) from aqueous solution efficiently. When the initial concentration of the Cr(vi) solution was 100 mg L⁻¹ and the adsorbent dosage was 12 g L⁻¹, the removal efficiency of Cr(vi) reached 96.2%. After the CMC–LDH beads were reused 10 times, the removal efficiency of Cr(vi) still remained at 89.6%.

CMC–LDH beads were prepared, characterized and applied for the removal of heavy metal ions in this study.

Synthesis of a highly dispersed CuO catalyst on CoAl-HT for the epoxidation of styrene

Non-noble CuO/CoAl-HT catalyst with high dispersion and rich electronic density exhibits excellent catalytic performance for the epoxidation of styrene.

An in situ recovery method to prepare carbon-coated Zn–Al–hydrotalcite as the anode material for nickel–zinc secondary batteries

Carbon-coated Zn–Al–hydrotalcite (Zn–Al–LDH) is firstly synthesized by an in situ recovery method and applied as a novel anode material for Ni/Zn secondary batteries.

Thermal evolution of Mg–Al and Ni–Al layered double hydroxides: the structure of the dehydrated phase

Simulation of X-ray diffraction patterns on the basis of the models of one-dimensional disordered crystals was used to investigate the structure of the dehydrated phase produced by dehydration of Mg–Al and Ni–Al layered double hydroxides at a temperature of ∼473–498 K. It was found that the removal of water molecules transforms the initial structure, which is a mixture of 3R1and 2H1polytypes, into a structure that comprises preferentially fragments of 3R2and 1Hpolytypes and has some turbostratic disorder.

Layered double hydroxide and sulindac coiled and scrolled nanoassemblies for storage and drug release

Systems comprising anti-inflammatory sulindac intercalated into biocompatible layered double hydroxides nanovehicles were isolated through one pot synthetic method and showed high crystallinity and curled or scrolled particles.

Based on the performance of hydrotalcite as anode material for a Zn–Ni secondary cell, a modification: PPY coated Zn–Al–LDH was adopted

Polypyrrole-coated, layered double hydroxide was successfully synthesized by the polymerization of pyrrole in the slurry of hydrotalcite under ultrasonication and stirring.

Strategy for synthesizing quantum dot-layered double hydroxide nanocomposites and their enhanced photoluminescence and photostability

Layered double hydroxide-quantum dot (LDH-QD) composites are synthesized via a room temperature LDH formation reaction in the presence of QDs. InP/ZnS (core/shell) QD, a heavy metal free QD, is used as a model constituent. Interactions between QDs (with negative zeta potentials), decorated with dihydrolipoic acids, and inherently positively charged metal hydroxide layers of LDH during the LDH formations are induced to form the LDH-QD composites. The formation of the LDH-QD composites affords significantly enhanced photoluminescence quantum yields and thermal- and photostabilities compared to their QD counterparts. In addition, the fluorescence from the solid LDH-QD composite preserved the initial optical properties of the QD colloid solution without noticeable deteriorations such as red-shift or deep trap emission. Based on their advantageous optical properties, we also demonstrate the pseudo white light emitting diode, down-converted by the LDH-QD composites.

Treatment of methyl orange by calcined layered double hydroxides in aqueous solution: Adsorption property and kinetic studies

Adsorption of a weak acid dye, methyl orange (MO) by calcined layered double hydroxides (LDO) with Zn/Al molar ratio of 3:1 was investigated. In the light of so called "memory effect," LDO was found to recover their original layered structure in the presence of appropriate anions, after adsorption part of MO(-) and CO(2-)(3) (come from air) intercalated into the interlayer of LDH which had been supported by XRD and ICP. The results of adsorption experiments indicate that the maximum capacity of MO at equilibrium (Q(e)) and percentage of adsorption (eta%) with a fixed adsorbent dose of 0.5 g L(-1) were found to be 181.9 mg g(-1) and 90.95%, respectively, when MO concentration, temperature, pH and equilibrium time were 100 mg L(-1), 298 K, 6.0 and 120 min, respectively. The isotherms showed that the adsorption of MO by Zn/Al-LDO was both consistent with Langmuir and Freundlich equations. The adsorption process was spontaneous and endothermic in nature and followed pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The calculated value of E(a) was found to be 77.1 kJ mol(-1), which suggests that the process of adsorption of methyl orange is controlled by the rate of reaction rather than diffusion. The possible mechanism for MO adsorption has also been presumed. In addition, the competitive anions on adsorption and the regeneration of Zn/Al-LDO have also been investigated.

Facile and Large-Scale Production of ZnO/Zn−Al Layered Double Hydroxide Hierarchical Heterostructures

ZnO/Zn-Al layered double hydroxide (ZnO/Zn-Al LDH) hierarchical architecture, a new type of ZnO-based heterostructure, has been synthesized directly on an Al substrate via a facile solution phase process. The firecracker-like heterostructures consist of uniform ZnO nanorods orderly standing at the edges of two-dimensional (2D) surfaces of Zn-Al LDH nanoplatelets. Experimental result obtained from the early growth stage indicates that the underlying Zn-Al LDH nanoplatelet arrays are well constructed with their (00l) planes perpendicular to the surface of Al substrate. We propose that the "edge effect" of Zn-Al LDH and the "lattice match" between ZnO and Zn-Al LDH are vital to the growth of such heterostructures. The effects of total solution volume and NH3.H2O concentration on the formation of heterostructures are investigated. It is found that other LDH-based complex structures can also be achieved controllably by varying the mentioned experimental factors. Our work is the first demonstration of fabricating intricate ZnO/Zn-Al LDH heterostructures as well as well-defined Zn-Al LDH arrays on an Al substrate, for which several promising applications such as optoelectronics, biosensors, and catalysis can be envisioned.