PXRD and PDF analysis of multifunctional lanthanide nitrilotris-methylphosphonate-based proton conductors

Metal phosphonates are multifunctional solids which possess tunable properties, such as H-bond networks, while exhibiting high chemical and thermal stability. Depending on the protonation of the ligand, different crystalline phases can be obtained. Here, we report three different families of proton conductors based on lanthanide nitrilotrismethylphosphonates. Compounds having cationic layers compensate by chloride or sulfate anions were isolated: [Ln(H4NMP)(H2O)2]Cl·2H2O and Ln(H5NMP)]·SO4·4H2O [H6NMP = nitrilotris(methylphosphonic acid)]. The crystal structure of Gd-(H5NMP)]·SO4·4H2O was solved ab initio from synchrotron powder diffraction data (λ=0.4124 Å, beamline BL04-MSPD ALBA) and refined by the Rietveld method. Chloride containing phases show two irreversible solid state transformations take place: (1) a crystalline-to-crystalline phase transition, {Ln-H4NMP → [Ln2(H3NMP)2(H2O)4]·4.5H2O for Ln= La, Pr}, and (2) crystalline-to-amorphous phase transition, {LnH4NMP → [Ln(H3NMP)]·1.5H2O for Ln= Gd - Ho}, both implies the loss of HCl and structural rearrangements of the frameworks. Variations in average and local structure have been monitored by high resolution powder diffraction and PDF analysis, upon exposure the samples at high relative humidity and temperature (95% RH and 80 ºC), in order to understand their behavior as proton conductors.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Proton conductivity of lanthanide nitrilotris-methylphosphonates

Multifunctional metal phosphonates are acidic coordination polymers (CPs) with remarkable stability and proton conducting properties owing to their structure is usually composed of extended hydrogen-bond networks that favor proton transfer pathways [1]. In this communication, three different families of proton conductors based on lanthanide nitrilotris-methylphosphonates are examined. Compounds were isolated by crystallization at room temperature at pH <0.8 in the presence of. When chloride is presented in solution two families of compounds were isolated, depending on the concentration of chloride in solution: free-chloride 1D solids with formula Ln2(H3NMP)2(H2O)4]·4.5H2O [Ln= La3+] [2] or layered chloride-containing Ln(H4NMP)(H2O)2]Cl·2H2O [Ln= La3+ - Ho3+] materials [3]. In absence of chloride, a third series of compounds was obtained. This structural versatility leads to a wide range of proton conductivity varying between 3 × 10−4 S·cm−1 and 2 × 10−3 S·cm−1 as measured at 80 °C and 95% RH.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Synthesis and proton conduction properties of lanthanide amino-sulfophosphonates

Crystalline acid-functionalized metal phosphonates are potential candidates as proton conducting electrolytes. Their frameworks can be chemically modified to contain proton carriers such as acidic groups (P-OH; -SO3H, -COOH,…) and guest molecules (H2O, NH3,…) that generates hydrogen bond networks stable in a wide range of temperature [1,2]. In this work, focus is laid on properties derived from the combination of lanthanide ions with the amino-sulfophosphonate ligand (H2O3PCH2)2-N-(CH2)2-SO3H. Hightrough-put screening was followed to reach the optimal synthesis conditions under solvothermal conditions at 140 ºC. Isolated polycrystalline solids, Ln[(O3PCH2)2-NH-(CH2)2-SO3H].2H2O (Ln= La, Pr and Sm), crystallize in the monoclinic (La) and orthorhombic (Pr and Sm) systems with unit cell volume of ~2548 Å3. Preliminary proton conductivity measurements for Sm derivative have been carried out between 25º and 80 ºC at relative humidity (RH) values of 70 % and 95 %. The sample exhibits enhanced conductivity at high RH and T (Figure 1) and constant activation energies of 0.4 eV, typical of a Grothuss mechanism of proton.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech. FQM-1656; MAT2013-41836-

Synthesis and proton conduction properties of lanthanide amino-sulfophosphonates

Acidic groups-containing metal phosphonates exhibit a wide range of proton conductivity depending on the water content and functionality. Moreover, this property can be enhanced by appropriate post-synthesis chemical and/or thermal treatments [1,2]. In this work, focus is laid on properties derived from the combination of lanthanide ions with the amino-sulfophosphonate ligand (H2O3PCH2)2-N-(CH2)2-SO3H. Highthrough-put screening was used to reach the optimal synthesis conditions under hydrothermal conditions at 140 ºC. Isolated polycrystalline solids, Ln[(O3PCH2)2-NH-(CH2)2-SO3H]·2H2O (Ln= La, Pr, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb and Er), crystallize in the monoclinic (La and Er) and orthorhombic (Pr, Sm, Eu, Gd and Tb) systems with unit cell volume of ~1200 and 2548 Å3 respectively. Their crystal structures, solved ab initio from X-ray powder diffraction data, correspond to different layered frameworks depending on the lanthanide cation size. Thus, compounds with orthorhombic symmetry show free acidic sulfonic pointing to the interlayer space, while La- and Er- derivatives display layered structures where both phosphonate and sulfonated groups are coordinated to the metal, leaving free P-OH groups. As consequence of this structural variability, different H-bond networks and proton transfer pathways are generated. Preliminary proton conductivity measurements have been carried out between 25 and 80 ºC at 70-95 % relative humidity. The sample exhibits conductivities near to 3.10-3 S.cm-1 and activation energies characteristics of a Grotthuss-type mechanism of proton transfer.Proyectos de investigación del ministerio MICINN, Españam(MAT2016-77648-R), Proyectos de la Junta de Andalucía (P12-FQM-1656), Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Structural study of the local order in ammonia-modulated FE(II) hydroxyphosphonoacetate proton conductors

Layered Fe(II) carboxiphosphonate, Fe-HPAA·2H2O, is a crystalline multifunctional coordination polymer exhibiting properties as photocatalyst and proton conductor. Postsynthesis modification by ammonia/water adsorption strongly enhances its proton conductivity. However, this process entails a progressive amorphization but in no case intercalation of the guest species was detected. Understanding the mechanism involved in this increased conductivity is crucial to develop novel high performance proton conductors for PEMFCs. Thus, total scattering and PDF study has been carried out to explore the mechanism of ammonia adsorption and subsequent amorphization. Different lenght scales have been investigated to characterize the average and local structure at variable ammonia loaded in order to ascertain posible structural modifications after gas/solid reactions. While significant short range order (from 1.4 to 10 Å) variations were observed even for low loadings, the average structure seems to be basically preserved except for the highest ammonia/water contents.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Tunable crystal structure and proton conductivity of lanthanide nitrilotrismethylphosphonates

Metal phosphonates are multifunctional solids with remarkable stability and proton conducting properties owing to their structure is usually composed of extended hydrogen-bond networks that favor proton transfer pathways [1]. Moreover, these properties can be enhanced by appropriate modification of the synthesis conditions [2, 3]. In this communication, a new family of isostructural 2D layered compounds based on lanthanide nitrilotris-methylphosphonates is reported. These compounds have been isolated at room temperature and have the general formula Ln[N(CH2)3(PO3H2)2(PO3H)(H2O)]SO4·2H2O (Ln= Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er and Yb). The coordination environment of Ln3+ is composed by eight oxygen atoms from three different ligands and two oxygens from bound waters. This connectivity creates positive charged layers connected to sulfate ions through hydrogen-bonds. These compounds show promising proton conductivity with values ranging between 7.6·10-2 and 3.8·10-2 S·cm-1 at 80 °C and 95% RH and low activation energy corresponding to Grotthuss-type proton transfer mechanism. In addition, a structural transformation occurs at T > 70 °C accompanied by a remarkable enhanced conductivity. Studies on the structure-properties relationships will be discussed.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech. MINECO: MAT2016-77648-R Junta Andalucía: P12-FQM-1656 y FQM-11

New Multifunctional Lanthanide and Zr(IV) Phosphonates Derived from the 5-(dihydroxyphosphoryl) Isophthalate Ligand as Proton Conductors

Metal phosphonates are essentially acidic solids featured by groups such as P-OH, -COOH, etc. Moreover, the presence of coordination and lattice water molecules favors the formation of H-bond networks, which make these compounds appropriate as proton conductors, attractive for proton exchange membranes (PEMs) of fuel Cells.1 We report here, general characteristics of metal phosphonate derivatives composed of the polyfunctional 5-(dihydroxyphosphoryl) isophthalate ligand2 and lanthanides or zirconium ions. In the case of the lanthanide derivatives, crystalline compounds were synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. Preliminary results suggest that at least three isostructural series of compounds are formed. One of them, with La3+ derivative as prototype, is characterized by an orthorhombic unit cell (a = 12.7745(6) Å, b = 11.8921(4) Å, c = 7.2193(5) Å). Pr3+, Eu3+ and Gd3+ compounds, displays a monoclinic unit cell likewise the Yb3+ solid, the latter exhibiting different crystallographic parameters. Zr(IV) = compound, with formula Zr[(HO3P-C6H3-(COO)2H)2]·8H2O; was obtained at 80 ºC in the presence of HF as mineralizing agent. This solid crystallizes in an orthorhombic unit cell (a = 21.9306 Å, b = 16.6169 Å, c = 3.6462 Å). All these compounds contain in their frameworks water molecules that contribute to the formation of H-bond networks, making them prone as proton conductor candidates. Structural and proton conductivity are underway.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech. Plan Propio de Investigación de la UMA MAT2016-77648

Ammonia effects on proton conductivity properties of coordination polymers

Crystalline metal phosphonates are referred to as a type of structurally versatile coordination polymers [1]. Many of them contain guest molecules (H2O, heterocyclics, etc.), acidic sites and, furthermore, their structure can be also amenable for post‐synthesis modifications in order to enhance desired properties [2]. In the present work, we examine the relationships between crystal structure and proton conductivity for several metal phosphonates derive from multifunctional ligands, such as 5-(dihydroxyphosphoryl)isophthalic acid (PiPhtA) [3] and 2-hydroxyphosphonoacetic acid (H3HPAA). Crystalline divalent metal derivatives show a great structural diversity, from 1D to 3D open-frameworks, possessing hydrogen-bonded water molecules and acid groups. These solids present a proton conductivity range between 7.2·10-6 and 1.3·10−3 S·cm-1. Upon exposure to ammonia vapor, from an aqueous solution, solid state transformations are observed accompanied of enhance proton conductivities. The stability of these solids under different environment conditions (temperature and relative humidities) as well as the influence of the ammonia adsorption on the proton conduction properties of the resulting solids will be discussed.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Synthesis and characterization of M(II) phosphonates (M = Fe, Co, Zn, Mn) as precursors for PEMFCs electrocatalysts

Metal phosphonates are promising precursors for applications such as proton conductivity [1] and catalysis [2]. Specifically, upon calcination metal polyphosphates are generated that can be used as non-noble metal alternatives [3] to the highly expensive commercial catalysts (Pt) for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). In this work, we present the synthesis and characterization of metal polyphosphates obtained from transition divalent metal phosphonates (M= Fe, Mn, Co and Zn) both as monometallic and bimetallic systems (solid solutions). For the preparation of the metal phosphonate precursors, two types of organic linkers were selected, i.e. 2-R,S-hydroxiphosphonoacetic acid [HO3PCH(OH)COOH, HPAA] and nitrilotrismethylenephosphonic acid [N(CH2PO3H2)3, ATMP]. The as synthesized compounds were calcined between 700 and 1000 ºC under N2. Depending on the metal/phosphorous molar ratio in the precursor phases, different compositions were found, the corresponding metal pyrophosphate being the major component according to the crystallographic data. Interestingly, in most of cases the solid solutions were preserved in the final product, for instance Fe-Mn, Fe-Co and Fe-Zn. All calcined materials have been also characterized by XPS, SEM/EDS, FTIR-Raman.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

New multifunctional sulfonato-containing metal phosphonates proton conductors

Anchoring of acidic functional groups to organic linkers acting as ligands in metal phosphonates has been demonstrate to be a valid strategy to develop new proton conductor materials, which exhibit tunable properties and are potentially applicable to proton exchange membranes, such as those used in PEMFCs [1,2]. In this work, the structural and proton conductivity properties of several families of divalent and trivalent metal amino-sulfophosphonates are presented. The chosen ligand, (H2O3PCH2)2-N-(CH2)2-SO3H, was reacted with the appropriate metal salt using highthrough-put screening and/or microwave-assisted synthesis. Different crystal structures haven been solved displaying a variety of metal ligand coordination modes, in whose frameworks acidic groups contribute to create strong H-bond networks; together with lattice and bound water molecules. Proton conductivity values oscillate between 10-4 and 10-2 S.cm-1, at 80 ºC and 95 % relative humidity, most of them showing activation energies characteristic of a Grotthuss-type proton transport mechanism.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech. MINECO: MAT2016-77648-R Junta de Andalucía: P-12-FQM-1656 y FQM-11