A reversible or irreversible reaction that involves the introduction of a
guest species into a host structure and that results in significant structural modifications to the host, for example, the breakage of bonds. Example: The
insertion of lithium at
into the spinel
Li[Mn2]O4 with symmetry
to yield a
layered structure with symmetry
.
Alternative terms:
topotactic reaction,
insertion reaction.
Source:
PAC, 1994, 66, 577
(Definitions of terms relating to phase transitions of the solid state (IUPAC Recommendations 1994))
on page 592
