Synthesis of Two Types of Intercalation Compounds of K4Nb6O17 with Tris(2,2′-bipyridyl) Metal Complex Ions

Abstract
K4Nb6O17 is a layered material with two different types of interlayer spaces, interlayer I and interlayer II. It was found that two types of intercalation compounds of K4Nb6O17 with alkylammonium ions were formed, one in which alkylammonium ions were present in interlayer I only, and the other in which they were present in both the interlayers. Intercalation of [M(bpy)3]2+ (M: Fe, Ru, Ni) into K4Nb6O17 was carried out using these two types of alkylammonium-intercalated K4Nb6O17 as the intermediates. Ion exchange reactions of the interlayer alkylammonium ions for the complex ions were conducted, and the formation of two types of products, one in which [M(bpy)3]2+ ions were present in interlayer I only and the other in which they were present in both the interlayers, was confirmed from powder X-ray diffraction patterns and the compositions of the products.