Mesoporous hybrid zirconium oxophenylphosphate synthesized in absence of any structure directing agent

Abstract

A new organic–inorganic hybrid mesoporous zirconium oxophenylphosphate (ZPP-1) has been synthesized hydrothermally at 443 K by using phenylphosphonic acid (PPA) as phosphorus source in absence of any structure directing agent. Powder XRD, TEM, FE SEM, N 2 sorption, CHN and ICP-AES chemical analyses, 13C CP/MAS and 31P MAS NMR, UV–visible and FT IR spectroscopic tools and thermal analysis were employed to characterize this novel material. XRD, N 2 sorption and TEM image analysis suggested the existence of multi-lamellar structure of the pore wall with large micropores and mesopores having peak maximums of ca. 1.5 and 5.0–6.0 nm, respectively in this ZPP-1 material. Interestingly, this hybrid material showed very high thermal stability together with retention of nanostructure and phenyl group when heated upto 723 K. ZPP-1 showed fairly high H 2 adsorption capacity under atmospheric pressure at 77 K. Possible templating role played by the framework phenyl groups has been discussed.