Metatitanic acid: Synthesis and properties

Features of proton-for-lithium ion substitution in monoclinic and pseudocubic lithium titanate are studied by X-ray diffraction, NMR spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. Proton incorporation into the lithium titanate structure decreases the parameter a(c) of the pseudocubic unit cell from 8.28 angstrom in Li2TiO3 to approximate to 8.15 angstrom in H2TiO3. Metatitanic acid, like hydrous titania, has weak acid properties, but unlike titania, it sorbs hydrolyzable multicharged cations from aqueous solutions.