• journal_title：Clays and Clay Minerals
• Contributor：Deng-Shiu Yang ; Ming-Kuang Wang
• Publisher：Clay Minerals Society
• Date：2003-
• Format：text/html
• Language：en
• Identifier：10.1346/CCMN.2003.510111
• journal_abbrev：Clays and Clay Minerals
• issn：0009-8604
• volume：51
• issue：1
• firstpage：96
• section：Articles

Lithiophorite is a naturally occurring phyllomanganate which has been identified in soils and ores. Studies on a synthetic version have shed light on the conditions required for the formation of lithiophorite. In this study, we successfully prepared lithiophorite under highly alkaline conditions. In addition, we found that Li⁺, Al³⁺ and hydrothermal treatment are all necessary for the formation of lithiophorite. Lithiophorite, birnessite and Li-intercalated gibbsite were examined by infrared (IR) spectroscopy. The Mn oxide sheets of lithiophorite and birnessite were found to have quite similar structural environments. On the other hand, the LiAl₂(OH)₆ sheets are affected more markedly by the Mn oxide sheets. After intercalation, the symmetry of the six interlayer OH groups of LiAl₂(OH)₆ is reduced and they are divided into two groups occupying different sites, corresponding to the IR absorption bands at 3480 and 3312 cm⁻¹, respectively.