SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF A HOLLOW SPHERICAL FORM OF MONOLAYER ALUMINOSILICATE.

Hollow spherical particles of aluminosilicate having diameters of 80 to 100 A and high electric charge were synthesized by heating solutions containing Si and Al concentrations of about 2 mM at 95 degree -100 degree C for 7 days. Electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, and infrared spectroscopy suggested that the walls of the spherical particles consisted of monolayer aluminosilicate, most probably having a 1:1 layer structure. Chemical analysis supported this supposition but indicated modifications for an ideal 1:1 layer silicate. High-resolution **2**9Si and **2**7Al nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy indicated the substitution of Al for Si in the tetrahedral sheet, the presence of Al**I**V and Al**V**I, and the presence of Si bonded through oxygen to three Al atoms and one H.