Direct intercalation of formamide (FAM) in dickite occurs spontaneously whe
n samples are treated by ultrason. The X-ray diffraction patterns show that
this intercalation increases the d(001) spacing from 7.19 to 10.77 Angstro
m. It is concluded from infrared studies that hydrogen bonds are formed bet
ween C=O groups of formamide and inner surface hydroxyls of dickite, indica
ted by the shift of the hydroxyl bands from 3708, 3654 cm(-1) and 3622 for
natural dickite to 3575, 3520, 3450 and 3612 cm(-1) for FAM-intercalated di
ckite. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.