Mechanochemical synthesis of layered hydroxy salts

Highlights: ► Ultrafast synthesis method was developed for the synthesis of layered hydroxy salts. ► Preparation of hydroxy single salt by this method requires only one minute. ► Hydroxy salts with variable Ni/Zn ratio could be synthesized by varying the metal contents of the starting mixture. ► This synthesis method is solvent free and environment friendly. -- Abstract: A simple one minute synthesis method was adapted for the preparation of layered hydroxy salts of copper, zinc, nickel and cadmium by grinding the metal salts with sodium hydroxide in a mortar. This solvent free method is environment friendly and fast. This method could be extended to the preparation of Ni/Zn hydroxy double salts. The Ni/Zn ratio could be varied from 1.2 to 1.9 by varying the metal contents of the precursor salts without the formation of any impurities in the sample. The prepared compounds had similar characteristics as that of the samples prepared by precipitation route. No sign of carbonate contamination was observed in any of the prepared samples.