Synthesis and characterization of zirconium diphosphate by microwave assisted metathesis approach

A novel solid-state metathesis (SSM) approach [ZrCl4 + 2(NH4)2HPO4 → 4NH4Cl + ZrP2O7 + H2O] has been applied to synthesize technologically important zirconium diphosphate, ZrP2O7. The SSM reaction is facilitated by the formation of a high lattice energy by-product such as NH4Cl, which is the driving force for product formation. The structural, optical, chemical, magnetic and electrochemical properties of the synthesized powders were determined by powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission Fourier transform infrared measurements, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, diffused reflectance spectra in the UV–vis range, magnetization measurements, and electrochemical characterization to establish structure–property relationship in the zirconium phosphate materials.