Formation of MnS- and NiS-montmorillonites by solid-solid reactions

MnS and NiS, which are a class of material used as a phosphor in thin film electroluminescence devices, formed in the interlayer spaces of montmorillonite by solid–solid reactions between powder of Mn(II)- or Ni(II)-montmorillonite and sodium sulfide at room temperature. The intercalation compounds were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, thermal analysis, thermogravimetric-mass spectroscopy analysis, and Raman, UV–visible and luminescence spectroscopies. The present solid-state intercalation and in situ formation of metal sulfides in the interlayer spaces of montmorillonite are a feasible synthetic route to prepare metal sulfide-montmorillonite hybrid materials with novel nanostructure and properties.