Complexing Agent Directed Growth of α-Zirconium Phosphate-Based Hexagonal Prisms

Jingfang Yu; Hao Ding; John Lampron; Benjamin R Martin; Abraham Clearfield; Luyi Sun

doi:10.1021/acs.inorgchem.9b02929

Complexing Agent Directed Growth of α-Zirconium Phosphate-Based Hexagonal Prisms

Inorg Chem. 2020 Jan 21;59(2):1204-1210. doi: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.9b02929. Epub 2020 Jan 3.

Authors

Jingfang Yu^{1

2}, Hao Ding^{1

2}, John Lampron¹, Benjamin R Martin³, Abraham Clearfield⁴, Luyi Sun^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering , University of Connecticut , Storrs , Connecticut 06269 , United States.
² Institute of Materials Science , University of Connecticut , Storrs , Connecticut 06269 , United States.
³ Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry , Texas State University , San Macros , Texas 78666 , United States.
⁴ Department of Chemistry , Texas A&M University , College Station , Texas 77842 , United States.

PMID: 31899618
DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.9b02929

Abstract

A layered prism is an ideal system for fundamental studies due to its unique structure with uniform-sized sheets. However, there are very limited reports in the last few decades on the preparation of such materials. In this contribution, we report for the first time the preparation of α-ZrP intercalation compound-based hexagonal prisms. Preferential crystal growth perpendicular to the (001) crystal plane of α-ZrP intercalation compounds was achieved by incorporating a complexing agent and a layer growth coordinator into a crystal growth reaction system. With the presence of a layer growth coordinator to coordinate the crystal growth perpendicular to the (001) crystal plane and the presence of a complexing agent to slow down the crystal growth rate, the previously unknown layer growth coordination effect is revealed. After a facile ion exchange treatment, pure α-ZrP hexagonal prisms can also be obtained.