Preparation and characterization of Cu(II) phthalocyanine tetrasulfonate intercalated and supported on layered double hydroxides

The aim of the present work was to synthesize and characterize layered double hydroxides (LDHs), in the magnesium/aluminum form, intercalated with copper(II) phthalocyanine tetrasulfonate (CuPcTs). The metal complex was immobilized into the LDH gallery region through the reconstitution method and this material was characterized by Xray diffraction (XRD), surface area and porosity measurements, elementary analysis, thermogravimetry (TGA), vibrational (IR) and electronic (UV-visible) spectroscopies, and electronic paramagnetic resonance (EPR). The catalytic performance of CuPcTs intercalated and supported on the LDH was evaluated by carrying out the hydrogen peroxide dismutation. The CuPcTs was successfully intercalated into the LDH layers according to XRD data (the basal spacing of the carbonate precursors increases by approximately 15 Angstrom in the intercalated samples). The surface area and porosity analysis suggested that the CuPcTs intercalated materials are not microporous solids. Samples containing the metal complex confined between the LDH layers have an appreciable thermal stability: decomposition is not observed at least up to 400 degreesC. TGA experiments also show that the weight-loss curves of the CuPcTs supported samples superimpose those recorded for the CuPcTs complex and the LDH-carbonate while the curves for the intercalated materials are unique. CuPcTs intercalated or supported on LDHs is not active in the hydrogen peroxide dismutation although the free form shows activity at pH above 8.