Direct Synthesis of Alkoxide-Intercalated Derivatives of Hydrocalcite-like Layered Double Hydroxides: Precursors for the Formation of Colloidal Layered Double Hydroxide Suspensions and Transparent Thin Films

Layered double hydroxide alkoxides obtained by precipitation of MII and MIII salts with NaOH in alcoholic solution have unique properties. They exhibit very large BET surfaces, indicating a pillared structure, and their slow hydrolysis yields very smooth, almost transparent films of the corresponding hydroxides (see Figure for comparison of alkoxide-based, left, and conventionally produced films, right), with high internal order as verified by the XRD pattern.