Intercalation of alkylviologen dications into the layered vanadium pentoxide

A novel series of inorganic-organic intercalation compounds were prepared by intercalating of alkylviologen dications into the layered vanadium pentoxide in the system of two phases of the liquid and the solid. Vanadium pentoxide dissolves slightly in water or acetone to form a pale yellow solution containing dispersed V2O5 layers. The exfoliated layers are reduced to give lamella anions, and then the layered structures are broken by the mutual electrostatic repulsion of anions. Under the cation templating effect, the exfoliated layers are restacked with the organic cations to form the new intercalation compounds.