Pressure-Induced Intercalation of Alcohol Molecules into a Layered Titanate

Novel pressure-induced intercalation of alcohols into a layered titanate has been discovered using a diamond-anvil cell and in situ X-ray diffraction measurement. The lepidocrocite(γ-FeOOH)-type titanate containing pentylammonium ions exhibited uniaxial expansion of 0.27 nm in methanol at 1 GPa and 0.23 nm in ethanol at 2 GPa, suggesting an intercalation of the alcohol molecules into the interlayer gallery. The expansion was reversible without a significant hysteresis of pressure.