Fabrication of NiFe layered double hydroxides using urea hydrolysis-Control of interlayer anion and investigation on their catalytic performance

NiFe layered double hydroxides (NiFe-LDHs) intercalated with nitrate and carbonate anion were synthesized by urea hydrolysis. The aging time and the molar ratio of NO3-/urea were varied in order to identify suitable parameters, which control the interlayer anion (nitrate or carbonate) and crystal structure of the final products. The prepared samples were applied to the one-pot synthesis of benzoin ethyl ether from benzaldehyde and ethanol. NiFe-NO3-LDH presented excellent catalytic activity, different from NiFe-CO3-LDH which showed none catalytic activity at all. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.