Synthesis of Water-Dispersible Single-Layer CoAl-Carbonate Layered Double Hydroxide

Despite extensive study on single-layer layered double hydroxides (SL-LDHs) with NO₃^- counterions, SL-LDHs with CO₃^2- counterions (CO₃^2- SL-LDHs) have never been prepared before. Herein, a CoAl-CO₃^2- SL-LDH which stays stable in water and powdery state is first synthesized using ethylene glycol as a reaction medium. The SL-LDH, with thickness of ∼0.85 nm, is composed of one Co(Al)O₆ layer sandwiched between two CO₃^2- layers. The SL-LDH powder shows high specific surface area (∼289 m²/g) and excellent electrocatalytic oxygen evolution efficiency. This work provides the first simple way to prepare CO₃^2- SL-LDHs and will open an avenue for synthesizing other SL-LDHs.