The delamination-restacking behavior of a number of layered double hydroxides (LDHs) differing in [M-II]/[M-III] ratio, constituent metal ions and intercalated surfactant anions in different organic solvents has been studied. Colloidal dispersion due to delamination and the stability of the colloid obtained have been found to be not affected much by the nature of the constituent metal ions but increase with increase in the size of the surfactant anion. LDHs with low [M-II]/[M-III] ratio delaminate better than the ones with high [M-II]/[M-III] ratio. Delamination is best in alcohols such as 1-butanol, 1-hexanol, 1-octanol and I-decanol, while a little delamination occurs in nonpolar solvents such as hexane. In all the cases, the original layered solid could be obtained through restacking of layers from the colloidal dispersion. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.