Synthesis, characterization, and reactivity of feitknechtite

The synthesis of Mg2+ doped beta-MnOOH which is known as feitknechtite is reported. Feitknechtite is a layered material having the Cdl(2) structure. The characterization of Mg2+ doped feitknechtite was done with X-ray powder diffraction, elemental analysis, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, scanning electron microscopy, alternating current (AC) impedance, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, average oxidation state titrations of manganese, and acidity measurements. The formation of feitknechtite is related to the MnO4-/Mn2+ ratio used in the synthesis. Feitknechtite can be converted to synthetic birnessite or octahedral layer birnessite (OL-l) which is a precursor to the 6.9 Angstrom tunnel structure material todorokite.