Magnesium hydroxide dehydroxylation: In situ nanoscale observations of lamellar nucleation and growth

Lamellar dehydroxylation mechanisms are important in understanding highly reactive nanocrystal oxide formation as well as a variety of applied lamellar hydroxide reaction processes. These mechanisms have been observed for the first time via in situ nanoscale imaging for the prototype lamellar hydroxide: Mg(OH)₂. Environmental-cell, dynamic high-resolution transmission electron microscopy was combined with advanced computational modeling in discovering that lamellar nucleation and growth processes govern dehydroxylation. The host lamella can guide the formation of a solid solution series of lamellar oxyhydroxide intermediates en route to oxide formation. This investigation opens the door to a deeper, atomic-level understanding of lamellar dehydroxylation reaction processes, nanocrystal oxide formation, and the range of potential new intermediate materials and third component reaction pathways they can provide.