First principles study of microscopic structures and layer-anion interactions in layered double hydroxides intercalated various univalent anions

Density functional theory has been used to investigate microscopic structures and electronic properties of LDHs containing F⁻, Cl⁻, Br⁻, I⁻, OH⁻, , , . Both electrovalent bonds and covalent bonds were found in the layer. For halogen anions, the strength of interaction was accorded with electronegative intensity. And the LUMOs dispersed throughout the interlayer region. While for complicated anions, the strength was accorded with the discrepancy of electronegative intensity between center atom and bonding atoms, the LUMOs almost localized in interlayer anions. p Orbital of metal cations and s orbital of anions provided major contributions to electrovalent parts of system, while s orbital of metal cations and p orbital of anions provided major contributions to covalent parts. This has the further significance in Forcefield design for LDHs simulation. Multiple hydrogen bonds were existed in LDHs-X system. The more the number of multiple hydrogen bonds formed, the weaker the strength of single multi-hydrogen bonds was. Multiple hydrogen bonds will bring stronger interaction between interlayer guest anion and host LDHs-layer than single hydrogen bond.