Relevant examples of intercalation-deintercalation processes in solid state chemistry: application to oxides

Abstract

Four ‘chimie douce’ synthetic methods, to which much attention has been devoted in the last years, are described. The electrochemical potential is shown to be efficient for intercalating as well as for deintercalating oxygen atoms in oxides. Gaseous NO ₂ is able to destroy in situ ammonium ions either in a soft way or violently, leading to the formation of tunneled or lamellar structures or to oxide nanoparticles. Borohydride solutions appear very attractive for the synthesis of low valent oxides at room temperature. Typical examples of these methods are given and the most important features of these reactions are discussed.