Long chain alkyl amine templated synthesis of a mesostructured lamellar vanadium phosphate phase

n-Hexadecylamine (HDA) has been used as a template to synthesize a mesolamellar vanadium phosphate (VPO) phase. FTIR studies indicate covalent interaction of the amine head with the vanadyl groups of the VPO matrix, in contrast to the other reported syntheses of meso-structured VPO phases which involve ionic interaction between a cationic surfactant and the inorganic matrix. XRD, TEM and solid state C-13 MAS NMR studies show that the incorporated HDA induces the formation of a mesolamellar phase with a basal spacing of 44.5 Angstrom. On ageing however, a restructuring of the incorporated HDA is observed resulting in a curvature of the inorganic layers and a decrease of the basal spacing to 38.04 Angstrom.