Lamellar silica and cadmium or mercury derivative-doped samples were synthe
sized by neutral amine route through the sol-gel process. These samples sho
wed a decrease of the interlamellar ii-space promoted only by an increase o
f the externally applied pressure on the samples. For a constant external p
ressure the observed decrease has a linear behavior as a function of time.
The undoped lamellar silica, when pressed under 760 mPa for 45 min, exhibit
ed a decrease of the interlamellar distance of 16%. The obtained results su
ggested that under an increased external pressure, cadmium is forced to cha
nge its coordination environment, to adjust to a most stable structure. (C)
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