INSERTION OF ELECTROCHEMICALLY REDUCED KEGGIN ANIONS INTO LAYERED DOUBLE HYDROXIDES

A new procedure is described to enable the charge on a Keggin ion to b e modified to improve incorporation into layered double hydroxides. Th e procedure, involving electrochemical reduction, has been tested usin g the 12-molybdophosphate anion; Chemical analysis and PXRD data confi rm that from the otherwise hydrolytically unstable and low charge anio ns which are unsuitable for intercalation within the basic matrix of M gAl-LDH, a species is obtained in which the stoichiometry is preserved and which yields a pillared LDH structure of 14.8 Angstrom basal spac ing.