Layered Materials: Oxides and Hydroxides

Abstract Layered compounds exhibit various properties based on their layered structures. The most typical chemical property is the intercalation reaction, which most layered oxides and hydroxides possess and which is important for the charge–discharge of secondary batteries and the preparation of new layered compounds. Layered materials have been a focus in the fields of superconductors, ferromagnetics, thermoelectrics, cosmetics, and photocatalytic materials, where investigations have been conducted for a wide range of applications. Therefore, although it is not possible to introduce all of the layered oxides and hydroxides here, their fundamental properties and reactions are often dependent on the transition metal elements in the layered structure. In this chapter, the fundamental structures and properties of layered perovskite oxides, layered oxides (cobalt, manganese, copper, titanium, niobium), and layered double hydroxides are described. In addition, exfoliation of the layered structures and the formation of layered structures using nanosheets are introduced.