Treatment of gibbsite {γ-Al(OH)3} with the lithium salts LiX {X = Cl, Br, NO3} in water leads to intercalation of both the cations and anions into the host structure to give [LiAl2(OH)6]X·H2O {X = Cl, Br, NO3}. Thermogravimetric analysis indicates that these materials can be readily dehydrated to give highly hydroscopic, crystalline layered phases [LiAl2(OH)6]X {X = Cl, Br, NO3}. The structures of these dehydrated phases have been determined by synchrotron X-ray and neutron powder diffraction. The dehydrated intercalates with {X = Cl, Br} are isomorphous and crystallize in the P63/mcm space group. [LiAl2(OH)6]NO3 adopts a similar structure but crystallizes in space group P63/m due to disorder of the intercalated nitrate anions in the crystallographic ab plane. All the intercalates consist of eclipsed Al(OH)3 layers stacked along the c-axis with the halide or nitrate ions located at the cell edges and midway between the Al(OH)3 layers. The lithium ions have been located in the unfilled octahedral sites within the Al(OH)3 layers. The structure of the hydrated phase [LiAl2(OH)6]Cl·H2O has also been determined, it adopts a similar structure with eclipsed [LiAl2(OH)6]+ layers stacking along the c-axis. However the intercalated Cl- ions and water molecules were found to be disordered over five sites located midway between the Al(OH)3 layers.

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The hydrothermal synthesis of the large-pore oxy-fluorinated gallophosphate ULM-5 has been followed in situ using time-resolved energy dispersive and angular dispersive X-ray diffraction. A variety of synthetic parameters such as temperature, reagent stoichiometry, source materials, and pH have been studied, and their effect on the crystallization determined. The nature of the phosphorus source used, either orthophosphoric acid or phosphorus pentoxide, is found to have a profound influence on the reaction pathway. Using orthophosphoric acid, ULM-5 is found to form very rapidly following a short induction period. A kinetic analysis of the crystallization of ULM-5 using orthophosphoric acid under isothermal hydrothermal conditions has been performed. Comparison of the experimentally determined extent of reaction (α) versus time data with those predicted by various theoretical models indicates that over a wide range of temperatures and pH the crystallization can be modeled by a three-dimensional diffusion-controlled process. This process occurs at a rate essentially independent of temperature and pH. In contrast, using phosphorus pentoxide, the formation of ULM-5 is found to proceed via the formation of either of two distinct crystalline intermediate phases, which subsequently react to form the ULM-5 final product at a rate which is strongly dependent on temperature. The relative quantities of each intermediate phase formed depend critically on the precise reagent stoichiometry used. Conditions have been identified in which ULM-5 can be formed exclusively via either intermediate phase. The mechanism of transformation of intermediate to product phases appears to be either a direct solid−solid transformation, or via the dissolution or amorphorization of only a small quantity of material at the surface of the intermediate crystallites.

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