Preparation and thermal decomposition study of pyridinedicarboxylate intercalated layered double hydroxides

Supramolecular 2,3- and 2,5-pyridinedicarboxylate (PDC) intercalated ZnAl-layered double hydroxides (2,3- and 2,5-PDC–ZnAl–LDHs) have been prepared by ion exchange method. The structure and composition of the intercalated materials have been studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy (ICP). The study indicates that the 2,3-PDC and 2,5-PDC anions are accommodated as interdigitated bilayer and monolayer arrangement respectively between the sheets of LDHs. Furthermore, their thermal decomposition processes were studied by the use of in situ high temperature X-ray diffraction (HT-XRD), and the combined technique of thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis-mass spectrometry (TG-DTA-MS) under N2 atmosphere. Based on the comparison study on the temperatures of both decarboxylation and complete decomposition of interlayer PDC, it can be concluded that 2,5-PDC–ZnAl–LDHs has higher thermal stability than that of 2,3-PDC–ZnAl–LDHs.