With an eye toward rational design of materials, we have investigated the structural features of a series of layered zirconium mixed phosphonates. Our lab had already established that a nearly linear dependence of interlayer spacing obtains in going from all-small (methyl) to all-large when p-aminobenzyl moiety is the large group. Conversely, a clear stepwise dependence is seen when pyrene is attached to the phosphonate anchor as the large group. We now can report that a hybrid structural-behavior type can be synthesized with stoichiometric variations of phenylbutyl and methyl pendant groups. After synthesis of each variant in the series, characterizations are carried out using TGA and IR spectroscopy. Structural measurements via powder X-ray diffraction reveal that at high concentrations of phenylbutyl the interlayer spacing is seen to be 22.5 ?. At a stoichiometric ratio of 1:1 phenylbutyl:methyl, a collapse to 15.7 ? occurs. Tuning down further to increased methyl content lowers the interlayer spacing gradually to the all-methyl interlayer spacing of 8.8 ?.

Synthesis and characterization of a novel archetype of mixed zirconium phosphonates:  Stoichiometric variation of phenylbutyl and methyl pendant groups producing both stepwise and gradual d-spacing changes

245th National Meeting (2013)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.