Precipitation synthesis of lanthanide hydroxynitrate anion exchange materials, Ln2(OH)5NO3·H2O (Ln=Y, Eu–Er)

Layered lanthanide hydroxynitrate anion exchange host lattices have been prepared via a room temperature precipitation synthesis. These materials have the composition Ln2(OH)5NO3·H2O and are formed for Y and the lanthanides from Eu to Er and as such include the first Eu containing nitrate anion exchange host lattice. The interlayer separation of these materials, approximately 8.5 Å, is lower than in the related phases Ln2(OH)5NO3·1.5H2O which have a corresponding value of 9.1 Å and is consistent with the reduction in the co-intercalated water content of these materials. These new intercalation hosts have been shown to undergo facile anion exchange reactions with a wide range of organic carboxylate and sulfonate anions. These reactions produce phases with up to three times the interlayer separation of the host lattice demonstrating the flexibility of these materials.