Intercalation of anionic oxalato complexes into layered double hydroxides

Intercalation compounds of layered double hydroxide (LDH), M(1-x)(II)M(x)(III)(OH)(2)A(x/y) . nH(2)O (with M(II) = Zn, Cu and M(III) = 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. (C) 2000 Academic Press.