Cationic intercalation chemistry reactions

Cationic intercalation chemistry is based on coupled ion-electron transfer reactions. 

Three areas of the intercalation chemistry of clays have received very detailed study and will be described further (a) intercalation of organic cations and neutral organic molecules (b) pillaring reactions and (c) clay polymer nanocomposites. 

The field of intercalation chemistry in layered silicates is huge. It includes many types of intercalates, and a large variety of host structures that can be modified before intercalation by various exchange reactions. Organoclays, for example, represent a family of compounds resulting from the introduction of organic cations by ion exchange and which also allow intercalation. 

The two distinct types of interlayer reaction observed in the MPS3 componnds (electron transfer to the layers and ion transfer from the layers into the reactant solution) are partially reversible and occur with simultaneous intercalation of catioiuc species into the interlayer spaces. The balance between the two different reaction pathways appears to depend on the band gap of the particular solid. Ion transfer reactions are easier in the larger band gap compounds (for example, with M = Zn, Cd, and Mn) where the layers appear to behave as cations weakly coupled to P2S6 units. The MPS3 lattices behave very differently from the dichalcogenides where the strong covalent interactions between formally M + cations and anions preclude any ion transfer chemistry involving the layers. 

Vanadium pentoxide xerogels are very reactive layered host materials which can be intercalated by various means such as cation-exchange, acid-base chemistry, or redox reactions. Vanadium pentoxide xerogel was prepared by polymerization of HVO3 after a few days of reaction at room temperature. The resultant xerogel... 

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