Intercalation process of metavanadate chains into a nickel-cobalt layered double hydroxide

A layered double hydroxide (LDH) built up of a packing of Ni0.70Co0.30(OH)(2) slabs with interlamellar (VO3)(n)(n-) metavanadate chains was prepared by a 'chimie douce' method. In order to investigate the process of intercalation yielding this material, the structural changes of the vanadate species primarily inserted into the LDH during the preparation step were followed by X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy and chemical analysis. The results show that diperoxovanadate ions are first inserted, then polycondense to give rise to (VO3)(n)(n-) metavanadate chains in the final LDH.