Synthesis and chemical-physical characterization of palladium and rhodium new materials derived from octadecyltrimethylammonium cationic surfactant intercalated into zirconium and titanium dihydrogen phosphate

The intercalation of octadecyltrimethylammonium ion into group IV phosphates α- and γ-zirconium and γ-titanium has been investigated. These host matrices exchange cationic surfactant to give organo-inorganic composite materials. The obtained materials have an interlayer distance d notably increased with respect to the precursors, and are stable up to 200°C. These intercalated materials can, in turn, exchange transition metal ions, as Pd (II) and Rh (III) to give composite materials that can be used in heterogeneous catalysis. After metal exchange, partial surfactant elution does not remarkably modify the XRPD. The IR spectra confirm insertion of metals: competition of the metal with the amine for the P—OH bonding is evident.