Thermal Decomposition Studies of Layered Metal Hydroxynitrates (Metal: Cu, Zn, Cu/Co, and Zn/Co)

Layered metal hydroxynitrates and mixed metal hydroxynitrates (copper/cobalt hydroxynitrates and zinc/cobalt hydroxynitrates at different mole ratios) were synthesized by hydrolysis of urea and metal nitrates at 140°C. Layered metal hydroxyl nitrates derive their structure from brucite mineral and generally crystallize in hexagonal and monoclinic phases. Isothermal decomposition studies of Cu2(OH)3(NO3), Co2(OH)3(NO3), Cu1.5Co0.5(OH)3(NO3), Cu1.34Co0.66(OH)3(NO3), Zn5(OH)8(NO3)2(H2O)2, Zn3.75Co1.25(OH)8(NO3)2(H2O)2, and Zn3.35Co1.65(OH)8(NO3)2(H2O)2 samples were carried out at different intervals of temperature and the structural transformations during the process were monitored using powder X-ray diffractograms. Biphasic mixture of metal hydroxynitrate/metal oxide is observed in case of cobalt/zinc based layered hydroxynitrates, while copper hydroxynitrate or copper/cobalt metal hydroxynitrate decomposes in a single step. The decomposition temperatures of layered metal hydroxynitrates and mixed layered metal hydroxides depend on the method of preparation, their composition and the nature of metal ion, and their coordination