Facile Synthesis and Catalytic Properties of Nickel-Based Mixed-Metal Oxides with Mesopore Networks from a Novel Hybrid Composite Precursor†

Facile synthesis of high-surface-area nickel-based mixed-metal oxides with interconnected mesopore networks through a novel layered double hydroxide/carbon (LDH/C) hybrid composite precursor route is successfully established. The starting LDH/C composite with interwoven framework structure is assembled by the crystallization of Ni/Al layered double hydroxide simultaneously accompanied by the carbonization of glucose under mild hydrothermal conditions, and subsequently, the formed composite is thermally decomposed to generate mesoporous nickel-based mixed-metal oxides after removal of the carbon. The materials have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared technique (FT-IR), thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and nitrogen sorption measurements. The results elucidate that the specific surface area of calcined LDH/C composite at 450 °C can be as high as 288 m2 g−1, and decrea...