Synthesis, Characterization, and Reactivity of Feitknechtite

Abstract

AbstractThe synthesis of Mg2+ doped β-MnOOH which is known as feitknechtite is reported. Feitknechtite is a layered material having the Cd12 structure. The characterization of Mg2+ doped feitknechtite was done with X-ray powder diffraction, elemental analysis, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, scanning electron microscopy, alternating current (AC) impedance, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, average oxidation state titrations of manganese, and acidity measurements. The formation of feitknechtite is related to the MnO4−/Mn2+ ratio used in the synthesis. Feitknechtite can be converted to synthetic birnessite or octahedral layer birnessite (OL-1) which is a precursor to the 6.9 Å tunnel structure material todorokite.