Synthesis and characterization of microporous pillared α-zirconium phosphate–biphenylenebis(phosphonate)

Abstract

Nanocrystalline, microporous pillared zirconium phosphate–biphenylenebis(phosphonate) materials were obtained by a sol–gel route involving the reaction of the 4,4′-biphenylenebis(phosphonic acid) and phosphoric acid with tetra-n-propoxyzirconium, followed by a mild hydrothermal crystallization treatment. The variation of the micropore volume with the pillar fraction demonstrated that the micropores were of interlamellar origin; the pore size distributions showed the presence of well defined micropores along with a broad distribution of meso- and macro-pores. However, it was not possible to control the micropore volume and the micropore size by varying the pillar fraction.