Manganese oxyhydroxide (g - MnOOH) of the manganite type has been synthesized by a simple route with K-birnessite prepared by the sol-gel method. The hydrothermal treatment of the lamellar birnessite type structure facilitates the formation of tunnel structures where the size of the tunnels depends on the synthesis conditions (pH, temperature and time). The evidence of manganite formation under the synthesis conditions were made by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetry, differential thermal analysis and infrared spectroscopy.
manganite; birnessite; synthesis
