Insertion of electrochemically reduced Keggin anions into layered double hydroxides

Abstract

A new procedure is described to enable the charge on a Keggin ion to be modified to improve incorporation into layered double hydroxides. The procedure, involving electrochemical reduction, has been tested using the 12-molybdophosphate anion. Chemical analysis and PXRD data confirm that from the otherwise hydrolytically unstable and low charge anions which are unsuitable for intercalation within the basic matrix of MgAl–LDH, a species is obtained in which the stoichiometry is preserved and which yields a pillared LDH structure of 14.8 Å basal spacing.