Thermal, solution and reductive decomposition of Cu–Al layered double hydroxides into oxide products

Cu–Al layered double hydroxides (LDHs) with [Cu]/[Al] ratio 2 adopt a structure with monoclinic symmetry while that with the ratio 0.25 adopt a structure with orthorhombic symmetry. The poor thermodynamic stability of the Cu–Al LDHs is due in part to the low enthalpies of formation of Cu(OH)2 and CuCO3 and in part to the higher solubility of the LDH. Consequently, the Cu–Al LDH can be decomposed thermally (150 °C), hydrothermally (150 °C) and reductively (ascorbic acid, ambient temperature) to yield a variety of oxide products. Thermal decomposition at low (400 °C) temperature yields an X-ray amorphous residue, which reconstructs back to the LDH on soaking in water or standing in the ambient. Solution decomposition under hydrothermal conditions yields tenorite at 150 °C itself. Reductive decomposition yields a composite of Cu2O and Al(OH)3, which on alkali-leaching of the latter, leads to the formation of fine particles of Cu2O (<1 μm).