Polymorphism and Phase Transition in Nanotubular Uranyl Phenylphosphonate: (UO2)3(HO3PC6H5)(O 3PC6H5)2H2O Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • The synthesis and crystal structure of a new nanotubular phenylphosphonate, -(UO2)3(HO3PC6H 5)2(O3-PC6H5) 2H2O, is reported. The compound crystallizes in the orthorhombic system, space group P212121 with a = 16.8268(7) , b = 7.1673(8) , c = 28.8228(12) , and Z = 4. The structure has been refined by the Rietveld method, and the final agreement factors were RwP = 13.1% and RF = 10.1%. The structure of the -phase is very similar to that reported earlier for the -phase, and it consists of closed packed nanotubes. The main difference between - and -polymorphs is a slightly different interactions through the phenyl rings. The inside walls of these nanotubes are hydrophilic and the organic groups are projected outward, which results in hydrophobic regions between nanotubes. These nanotubes are held together only by van der Waals forces. The topotactic reversible phase transition between the two phases has been characterized by powder thermodiffractometry. 31P MAS NMR data are also shown to display the structural relationship between both polymorphs.

published proceedings

  • Inorganic Chemistry

author list (cited authors)

  • Aranda, M., Cabeza, A., Bruque, S., Poojary, D. M., & Clearfield, A.

complete list of authors

  • Aranda, MAG||Cabeza, A||Bruque, S||Poojary, DM||Clearfield, A

publication date

  • December 1998