Intercalation of copper into layered lanthanum niobium oxides

Abstract

The intercalation of copper(I) and (II) ions into the interlamellar regions of the layered compounds ALaNb2O7(A = H, K, Cs) has been carried out. Copper(I) ions could be inserted into the interlayer by ion exchange in aqueous CuCl despite the very low solubility of CuCl in water. Copper(II) ions could be inserted by heating a mixture consisting of copper(II) sulfate with ALaNb2O7 at 400 °C. It was found that the reaction occurred in the solid phase and the intercalation product retained the same structure as the starting materials CsLaNb2O7 and KLaNb2O7, of tetragonal and orthorhombic structure, respectively. The states of the inserted copper and the thermal properties of the intercalation products were examined.