LAUSR

Abstract An ultrasonically-assisted mechanochemical method was further improved to increase the yield of high-quality ZnAl2-LDH with carbonate interlayer anions. In the LDH formation, the rarely studied temperature, power and pulse character of ultrasound irradiation were investigated to determine the optimal parameters for the synthesis. The as-prepared samples were milled with varying the grinding frequency in order to convert the layered hydroxide structure into ZnAl2O4 spinel. This was the first time that ZnAl2O4 spinel formation was induced mechanochemically. The main method to identify the effects of ultrasonic and mechanochemical treatments was X-ray diffractometry; however, infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and thermal analysis were also applied to follow and compare the mechanochemically induced spinel formation to the more frequently used heat treatment.