Abstract

Lamellar organic–inorganic nickel silicates have been synthesised under hydrothermal conditions at 170 °C from a mixture of nickel acetate solution and (aminopropyl)triethoxysilane. The influence of the presence or absence of a mineralising agent such as HF or NH₄F has been studied. Structural characterisations show that this material adopts a lamellar arrangement of nickel hydroxide layers separated by 21 Å with, in the interspace, organically modified silicate entities linked to the inorganic layer. The hysteresis cycle and ac susceptibility have been carried out and reveal a paramagnetic–ferromagnetic transition below 20 K.