Hydrothermal synthesis of Mg–Al hydrotalcites by urea hydrolysis

We report a simple method to prepare hydrotalcites involving both urea hydrolysis and hydrothermal synthetic conditions. Out of a series of Mg/Al ratios tried, pure hydrotalcite like phase was obtained for Mg/Al ratios of 1:1 and 2:1. Unlike in conventional co-precipitation method we succeeded in preparing Mg/Al ratio of 1:1 by this route. The high temperature (180 °C) applied and pressure developed in the autoclave during the synthesis might have altered the topochemical transformation. The materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared, thermo gravimetric and differential thermal analysis and transmission electron microscopy.