Determination of the formation mechanism of zinc and nickel layered double hydroxides

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15587/1729-4061.2026.358469

Keywords:

potentiometric titration, formation mechanism, Zn-Al LDH, Ni-Al LDH, Ni(II)-Ni(III) LDH

Abstract

The object of the study – the formation mechanism of Zn-Al nitrate, Zn-Al tripolyphosphate, Ni-Al carbonate and Ni(II)-Ni(III) carbonate layered-double hydroxides (LDHs).

To calculate the composition of the precipitate at the LDH formation stage, the following hypotheses were proposed:

1) basic salt hypothesis (BSH): all cations completely precipitate, then OH- ions replace the anions;

2) variable cation composition hypothesis (VCCH): the precipitate is formed by a saturated "guest" cation, and subsequently the amount of the "host" cation increases.

Potentiometric titration with a glass electrode was used to determine the LDH formation mechanism.

A two-stage formation mechanism was observed for Zn-Al-NO3 LDH. At the first stage, aluminum hydroxide forms (pH = 6.47) via the formation of the hydroxo salt Al(OH)0,667(NO3)2,333 (pH = 4.98). At the second stage, LDH formation proceeds through intermediate stages: at pH = 7.36, the is composition Zn0,8Al0,2(OH)1,20(NO3)1,00 (BSH) or Zn0,667Al0,333(OH)2(NO3)1,667 (VCCH), at pH = 9.35, the composition is Zn0,8Al0,2(OH)1,93(NO3)0,27 (BSH) or Zn0,793Al0,207(OH)2(NO3)0,204 (VCCH).

A two-stage mechanism is characteristic of Zn-Al-P3O10 LDH. At pH = 6.25, the hydroxo salt Al(OH)2,66(P3O10)0,067 is formed, whereas at pH = 9.25, LDH with the composition Zn0,8Al0,2(OH)2,00(P3O10)0,040 is obtained. For Zn-Al LDH, a pH range of 7–10 is recommended.

It was found that during the formation of Ni-Al-CO3 LDH, the stage of Al hydroxocompound formation is absent due to the complete irreversible hydrolysis of Al3+ in the presence of  At pH = 6.5, the precipitate Ni0,8Al0,2(OH)1,066(CO3)0,567 (BSH) or Ni0,624Al0,376(OH)2(CO3)0,376 (VCCH) is formed, which is transformed into LDH upon further alkalization. The synthesis of Ni-Al-CO3 LDH should be carried out at pH = 8–11.

A single-stage formation mechanism is determined for Ni(II)-Ni(III)-CO3 LDH, with a recommended synthesis pH range of 10–11.

Comparative analysis shows that the VCCH better describes the change in the precipitate composition during LDH formation

Author Biographies

Vadym Kovalenko, Ukrainian State University of Science and Technologies

PhD, Associate Professor

Department of Analytical Chemistry and Chemical Technologies of Food Additives and Cosmetics

Anastasiia Borysenko, Dnipro State Medical University

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Junior Researcher

Department of Biochemistry and Medical Chemistry

Dmytro Andreiev, Ukrainian State University of Science and Technologies

PhD Student

Department of Analytical Chemistry and Chemical Technologies of Food Additives and Cosmetics

Anton Dopira, Ukrainian State University of Science and Technologies

PhD Student

Department of Analytical Chemistry and Chemical Technologies of Food Additives and Cosmetics

Oleksii Demchenko, Dnipro University of Technology

PhD Student

Department of Mining Engineering and Education

Valerii Kotok, Ukrainian State University of Science and Technologies

PhD, Associate Professor

Department of Processes, Apparatus and General Chemical Technology

Volodymyr Medianyk, Dnipro University of Technology

PhD, Associate Professor

Department of Mining Engineering and Education

Dmytro Sukhomlyn, Dnipro University of Technology

PhD, Associate Professor

Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

German Shuklin, National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”

PhD, Associate Professor

Department of Software Engineering in Energy

Volodymyr Verbitskiy, Dragomanov Ukrainian State University; National Ecology and Nature Center

Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, Professor

Director

Department of Medical, Biological and Valeological Basics of Life and Health Protection

References

  1. Nalawade, P., Aware, B., Kadam, V., Hirlekar, R. (2009). Layered double hydroxides: A review. Journal of Scientific and Industrial Research, 68, 267–272. Available at: https://www.hazemsakeek.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/LDH.pdf
  2. Kovalenko, V., Kotok, V., Murashevych, B. (2023). Layered Double Hydroxides as the Unique Product of Target Ionic Construction for Energy, Chemical, Foods, Cosmetics, Medicine and Ecology Applications. The Chemical Record, 24 (2). https://doi.org/10.1002/tcr.202300260
  3. Kovalenko, V., Borysenko, A., Kotok, V., Nafeev, R., Verbitskiy, V., Melnyk, O. (2022). Determination of the dependence of the structure of Zn-Al layered double hydroxides, as a matrix for functional anions intercalation, on synthesis conditions. Eastern-European Journal of Enterprise Technologies, 1 (12 (115)), 12–20. https://doi.org/10.15587/1729-4061.2022.252738
  4. Sasai, R., Sato, H., Sugata, M., Fujimura, T., Ishihara, S., Deguchi, K. et al. (2019). Why Do Carbonate Anions Have Extremely High Stability in the Interlayer Space of Layered Double Hydroxides? Case Study of Layered Double Hydroxide Consisting of Mg and Al (Mg/Al = 2). Inorganic Chemistry, 58 (16), 10928–10935. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.inorgchem.9b01365
  5. Wijitwongwan, R. (Ploy), Intasa-ard, S. (Grace), Ogawa, M. (2019). Preparation of Layered Double Hydroxides toward Precisely Designed Hierarchical Organization. ChemEngineering, 3 (3), 68. https://doi.org/10.3390/chemengineering3030068
  6. Khan, A. I., Ragavan, A., Fong, B., Markland, C., O’Brien, M., Dunbar, T. G. et al. (2009). Recent Developments in the Use of Layered Double Hydroxides as Host Materials for the Storage and Triggered Release of Functional Anions. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 48 (23), 10196–10205. https://doi.org/10.1021/ie9012612
  7. Izaddin Sheikh Mohd Ghazali, S. A., Dzulkifli, N. N., Abdullah, A., Fatimah, I., Biswas, H. S., Kovalenko, V., Poddar, S. (2025). Synthesis of novel ternary herbicide-layered double hydroxide hybrids via the ion exchange method. Pure and Applied Chemistry, 97 (5), 451–459. https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2024-0336
  8. Mohd Shah, A. H., Izaddin Sheikh Ghazali, S. A., Md Norizan, N. E., Roslan, N. J., Dzulkifli, N. N., Zaki, H. M. et al. (2025). Design and evaluation of zinc-aluminium layered double hydroxide-palmitic acid nanocomposites: synthesis, characterization and antimicrobial properties. Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences, 29 (3), 1304. Available at: https://mjas.analis.com.my/mjas/v29_n3/pdf/Mohd%20Shah_29_3_1304.pdf
  9. Burmistr, M. V., Boiko, V. S., Lipko, E. O., Gerasimenko, K. O., Gomza, Yu. P., Vesnin, R. L. et al. (2014). Antifriction and Construction Materials Based on Modified Phenol-Formaldehyde Resins Reinforced with Mineral and Synthetic Fibrous Fillers. Mechanics of Composite Materials, 50 (2), 213–222. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11029-014-9408-0
  10. Mohd Shah, A. H., Ahmad, A., Dzulkifli, N. N., Mohd Zaki, H., Fatimah, I., Kovalenko, V., Sheikh Mohd Ghazali, S. A. I. (2026). pH-responsive LDH-palmitic acid nanohybrids for controlled drug delivery. Pure and Applied Chemistry. https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2025-0602
  11. Kesavan Pillai, S., Kleyi, P., de Beer, M., Mudaly, P. (2020). Layered double hydroxides: An advanced encapsulation and delivery system for cosmetic ingredients-an overview. Applied Clay Science, 199, 105868. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2020.105868
  12. Kameliya, J., Verma, A., Dutta, P., Arora, C., Vyas, S., Varma, R. S. (2023). Layered Double Hydroxide Materials: A Review on Their Preparation, Characterization, and Applications. Inorganics, 11 (3), 121. https://doi.org/10.3390/inorganics11030121
  13. Zhang, G., Zhang, X., Meng, Y., Pan, G., Ni, Z., Xia, S. (2020). Layered double hydroxides-based photocatalysts and visible-light driven photodegradation of organic pollutants: A review. Chemical Engineering Journal, 392, 123684. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2019.123684
  14. Yousaf, M. H., Shahid, M., Ahmad, N., Ali, M., Yousaf, G. (2023). Catalytic Hydrogenation of Organic Polymers by Mixed Transition Metal Oxides. International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology, 8 (5), 3234–3241. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8049671
  15. Kotok, V., Kovalenko, V., Malyshev, V. (2017). Comparison of oxygen evolution parameters on different types of nickel hydroxide. Eastern-European Journal of Enterprise Technologies, 5 (12 (89)), 12–19. https://doi.org/10.15587/1729-4061.2017.109770
  16. Kovalenko, V., Kotok, V., Kovalenko, I. (2018). Activation of the nickel foam as a current collector for application in supercapacitors. Eastern-European Journal of Enterprise Technologies, 3 (12 (93)), 56–62. https://doi.org/10.15587/1729-4061.2018.133472
  17. Kotok, V. A., Kovalenko, V. L., Solovov, V. A., Kovalenko, P. V., Ananchenko, B. A. (2018). Effect of deposition time on properties of electrochromic nickel hydroxide films prepared by cathodic template synthesis. ARPN Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences, 13 (9), 3076–3086. Available at: https://www.arpnjournals.org/jeas/research_papers/rp_2018/jeas_0518_7034.pdf
  18. Kotok, V. A., Kovalenko, V. L. (2019). Non-Metallic Films Electroplating on the Low-Conductivity Substrates: The Conscious Selection of Conditions Using Ni(OH)2Deposition as an Example. Journal of The Electrochemical Society, 166 (10), D395–D408. https://doi.org/10.1149/2.0561910jes
  19. Solovov, V. A., Nikolenko, N. V., Kovalenko, V. L., Kotok, V. A., Burkov, A. А., Kondrat’ev, D. A. et al. (2018). Synthesis of Ni(II)-Ti(IV) Layered Double Hydroxides Using Coprecipitation At High Supersaturation Method. ARPN Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences, 13 (24), 9652–9656. Available at: https://www.arpnjournals.org/jeas/research_papers/rp_2018/jeas_1218_7500.pdf
  20. Alibakhshi, E., Ghasemi, E., Mahdavian, M., Ramezanzadeh, B. (2017). A comparative study on corrosion inhibitive effect of nitrate and phosphate intercalated Zn-Al- layered double hydroxides (LDHs) nanocontainers incorporated into a hybrid silane layer and their effect on cathodic delamination of epoxy topcoat. Corrosion Science, 115, 159–174. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.corsci.2016.12.001
  21. Roslan, N. J., Mohd Shah, A. H., Dzulkifli, N. N., Saharuddin, T. S. T., Rusmin, R., Jasni, A. H. et al. (2025). Interlayer Expansion and Morphological Transformation of Zinc-Aluminium Anionic Clay through Methyl Orange Intercalation. Malaysian Journal of Chemistry, 27 (3), 254–260. https://doi.org/10.55373/mjchem.v27i3.254
  22. Kovalenko, V., Kotok, V. (2020). Tartrazine-intercalated Zn–Al layered double hydroxide as a pigment for gel nail polish: synthesis and characterisation. Eastern-European Journal of Enterprise Technologies, 3 (12 (105)), 29–37. https://doi.org/10.15587/1729-4061.2020.205607
  23. Vazquez, R. N. M., Nuñez, C. P., Kovalenko, V., Kotok, V., Moisés, F. P. P., Lamas, A. M. M., Arízaga, G. G. C. (2023). Electron Transfer within an Antioxidant Powder Composite with Layered Double Hydroxide Nanoparticles and Tomato Extract. Biointerface Research in Applied Chemistry, 13 (3), 257. https://doi.org/10.33263/briac133.257
  24. Andrade, K. N., Pérez, A. M. P., Arízaga, G. G. C. (2019). Passive and active targeting strategies in hybrid layered double hydroxides nanoparticles for tumor bioimaging and therapy. Applied Clay Science, 181, 105214. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2019.105214
  25. Gao, S.-P., Lu, T.-H., Li, S.-P., Zhong, H. (2009). The mechanism on the pH value influencing the property of glutamic acid/layered double hydroxide compounds. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 351 (1-3), 26–29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfa.2009.09.021
  26. Bukhtiyarova, M. V. (2019). A review on effect of synthesis conditions on the formation of layered double hydroxides. Journal of Solid State Chemistry, 269, 494–506. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jssc.2018.10.018
  27. Seron, A., Delorme, F. (2008). Synthesis of layered double hydroxides (LDHs) with varying pH: A valuable contribution to the study of Mg/Al LDH formation mechanism. Journal of Physics and Chemistry of Solids, 69 (5-6), 1088–1090. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpcs.2007.10.054
  28. Grégoire, B., Ruby, C., Carteret, C. (2013). Hydrolysis of mixed Ni2+–Fe3+ and Mg2+–Fe3+ solutions and mechanism of formation of layered double hydroxides. Dalton Transactions, 42 (44), 15687. https://doi.org/10.1039/c3dt51521d
  29. Xu, Z. P., Braterman, P. S. (2014). Layered Double Hydroxides: Self-Assembly and Multiple Phases. Dekker Encyclopedia of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Third Edition, 2056–2066. https://doi.org/10.1081/e-enn3-120013852
  30. Boclair, J. W., Braterman, P. S. (1999). Layered Double Hydroxide Stability. 1. Relative Stabilities of Layered Double Hydroxides and Their Simple Counterparts. Chemistry of Materials, 11 (2), 298–302. https://doi.org/10.1021/cm980523u
  31. Kovalenko, V., Kotok, V. (2019). “Smart” anti­corrosion pigment based on layered double hydroxide: construction and characterization. Eastern-European Journal of Enterprise Technologies, 4 (12 (100)), 23–30. https://doi.org/10.15587/1729-4061.2019.176690
  32. Kovalenko, V., Andreiev, D., Kotok, V., Baskevich, A., Medianyk, V., Sukhomlyn, D., Verbitskiy, V. (2026). Determination of the possibility of obtaining ballastless Ni(II)-Ni(III) layered double hydroxides as promising active substances for supercapacitors and electrocatalysis. Eastern-European Journal of Enterprise Technologies, 1 (6 (139)), 6–15. https://doi.org/10.15587/1729-4061.2026.352268
  33. Kovalenko, V., Kotok, V., Girenko, D., Nikolenko, M., Andreiev, D., Verbitskiy, V. et al. (2023). Investigation of the mechanism of nickel hydroxide formation from nickel nitrate. Eastern-European Journal of Enterprise Technologies, 1 (6 (121)), 58–65. https://doi.org/10.15587/1729-4061.2023.272673
  34. Johari, N. A., Mahathir, N. F. A., Shah, N. A., Dzulkifli, N. N., Fatimah, I., Adam, N. et al. (2023). Zinc Layered Hydroxide 2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetate: Synthesis via ZnO, Characterization and Effect on Seed Germination. Trends in Sciences, 20 (12), 6943. https://doi.org/10.48048/tis.2023.6943
Determination of the formation mechanism of zinc and nickel layered double hydroxides

Downloads

Published

2026-04-30

How to Cite

Kovalenko, V., Borysenko, A., Andreiev, D., Dopira, A., Demchenko, O., Kotok, V., Medianyk, V., Sukhomlyn, D., Shuklin, G., & Verbitskiy, V. (2026). Determination of the formation mechanism of zinc and nickel layered double hydroxides. Eastern-European Journal of Enterprise Technologies, 2(6 (140), 62–71. https://doi.org/10.15587/1729-4061.2026.358469

Issue

Section

Technology organic and inorganic substances