Synthesis and thermal behavior of Co/AlCe layered double hydroxide

Cerium-containing cobalt-aluminum layered double hydroxide was successfully synthesized via coprecipitation followed by hydrothermal treatment. Molar ratios of metal cations were predetermined as following: Co2+/(Al3+ + Ce3+) = 3 and Ce3+/(Al3+ + Ce3+) = 0.05. According to X-ray diffraction data, the obtained sample was well crystallized single-phase product with a hydrotalcite-like structure. The presence of cerium was confirmed by elemental analysis. The synthesized material consisted of hexagonal plate-like particles with an average size of 277 nm. The study of thermal behavior showed that the compound decomposed with the formation of oxides mixture, which is typical for layered double hydroxides. Its rehydration ability was expressed very weakly and the “memory effect” was observed only after heat treatment at a temperature not higher than 200 °C.