Differently aged gallium-containing layered double hydroxides

Ni–Ga layered double hydroxides with the hydrotalcite-like structure have been prepared by coprecipitation of the metal cations with NaOH or by urea hydrolysis; the use of different aging treatments, under air, reflux and or microwave radiation, permits to modify their chemical composition and textural properties. Slight variations of the different parameters in the aging treatments, namely, pressure (atmospheric or autogenous), heating conditions (conventional or microwave) and time, have been tested to develop a suitable method to obtain solids with tailored characteristics. Original and calcined solids have been fully characterized by means of PXRD, FT-IR, TG–DTA, SBET and particle size distribution measurements. After calcination, well-dispersed oxides with a high specific surface area have been obtained.