Tetrahedral rehydration during imogolite formation

The reaction of aluminium chloride with tetraethyoxysilane under dilute conditions has been studied in order to elucidate the way the nanosilicate imogolite is formed. A new finding is the discovery of a new species prior to protoimogolite formation. This material transforms readily via conversion of tetrahedral aluminium to octahedral aluminium to form protoimogolite.