Evaluation of the Structural Integrity of Layered Double Hydroxides and Mesoporous Silica During the Preparation of Heterostructures

Heterostructures constructed with mesoporous silica and layered double hydroxides are interesting for catalytic drug delivery applications. Different arrangements between these phases possible. In this study, we prepared heterostructures by embedding [M4Al2(OH)12](CO3) (M = Mg2+ or Zn2+) within the MCM41 type phase. According to our results, most critical step of preparation is removal organic template used create mesopores in phase, which can be done calcination extraction solvent, normally a mixture ethanol mineral acid. The results reported study demonstrate that both cause structural changes components heterostructure at different extensions. Calcination promoted collapse hydroxide phases. Attempts made their reconstruction through rehydration, quite known process, were not completely effective also dependent on chemical composition complete preservation was possible using method but replacing acid NH4Cl. However, some discrete identified possibly due partial lixiviation Al3+ from layers.