Synthesis, characterization and intercalation property of layered zirconium benzylamino-N,N-dimethylphosphonate phosphate materials

Layered zirconium benzylamino-N,N-dimethylphosphonate phosphate (ZBMPA) was prepared by the reaction of zirconyl chloride with benzylamino-N,N-dimethylphosphonic acid (H2BMPA) and phosphoric acid in the presence of hydrofluoric acid. The intercalation of n-alkylamines (n-butylamine, n-heptylamine and n-decylamine) into ZBMPA was primarily investigated at room temperature. These materials were characterized by elemental analysis, ICP, XRD, SEM, FT-IR, Raman spectra, TG and DSC. The composition of ZBMPA is Zr(HPO4)(C6H5CH2N(CH2PO3)2)0.5 · 2.0H2O. The interlayer distance of ZBMPA, n-butylamine, n-heptylamine and n-decylamine intercalation compounds is 2.03, 2.58, 2.52 and 3.17 nm, respectively. ZBMPA and the n-alkylamine intercalation compounds are different in the morphology and vibration spectra. Thermogravimetries of all materials obtained reveal three step mass losses at temperatures of up to 1000 °C. These results indicate that n-alkylamines are intercalated into the galleries of host ZBMPA.