Preparation and Characterization of TiO2-pillared Layered HNb3O8

Oligomeric titanium(IV) cation ([Ti(OH)x(H2O)y]z+)-intercalated niobate was prepared through a stepwise ion-exchange route, in which n-decylamine was employed as a preswelling agent and titanium isopropoxide as tita-nium source. Titania-pillared layered niobic acid was then obtained by calcining oligomeric titanium(IV) cation-intercalated niobate at 450 ℃ in air. Characterization of this pillared material indicated that the material had a porous layered structure with an interlayer distance of 1.38 nm and a BET (Brunauer-Emmett-Teller) surface area of 34 m2·g-1. The layered structure was still retained after the pillared material was heated at 550 ℃.