Utilizing Hydrothermal Reactions to Optimize Crystallinity of Metal Organophosphate Porous Materials; Achieving Regularity in Porosity for Aluminum Complexes
REU student: Nancy Garcia, Nancygarcia21275@tamu.edu
Graduate student: Tiffany Kinnibrugh
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Abraham Clearfield http://www.chem.tamu.edu/rgroup/clearfield/
The synthesis of metal organophosphonates have a variety of potential applications, including proton conductors, ion exchangers and gas absorption. With the goal of obtaining high surface area and porosity, hydrothermal reactions enabled obtaining aluminum and monovalent metal materials. Microprobe and elemental analysis suggest the two products synthesized had chemical formulas Al4(O3PC12H8PO3)3∙8.75H2O and Al4(O3PC12H8PO3)2.29 (HPO3)1.42∙10H2O. Surface area measurements indicate an increase in internal surface area with the addition of phosphorous acid. X- ray powder diffraction and NMR data suggest layer material with two types of Al geometry. Optimization of crystalline properties and utility will require further variations of the reactions.
SEM images of a compound attwo different magnifications showing particles of varying sizes and shapes, which does not indicate regular or repeating structural components.