NICKEL-OXIDE INTERSTRATIFIED ALPHA-ZIRCONIUM PHOSPHATE, A COMPOSITE EXHIBITING FERROMAGNETIC BEHAVIOR

As part of an ongoing research program to synthesize novel pillared la yered materials, nickel and cobalt hydroxyacetates were inserted betwe en the layers of amine intercalates of alpha-zirconium phosphate. The structure of the resultant nickel composite, derived from x-ray powder data, was found to consist of a three-tiered layer of nickel atoms br idged by hydroxo and acetato groups. Heating to 420 degrees C converte d the hydroxyacetate layers to oxide and imparted ordered magnetic dom ains to the composite. The phosphate layers appear to act as a templat e directing the growth of the inserted layers in this class of composi te materials.