Immobilization of Alendronate on Zirconium Phosphate Nanoplatelets

Different amounts of sodium-alendronate (ALN) were loaded into layered zirconium phosphates of alpha and gamma type (αZP and γZP) by means of topotactic exchange reactions of phosphate with ALN. In order to extend the exchange process to the less accessible interlayer regions, ALN solutions were contacted with colloidal dispersions of the layered solids previously exfoliated in single sheets by means of intercalation reaction of propylamine (for αZP) or acetone (for γZP). The ALN loading degree was determined by liquid P-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and inductively coupled plasma (ICP), and it was reported as ALN/Zr molar ratios (Rs). The maximum R obtained for γZP was 0.34, while αZP was able to load a higher amount of ALN, reaching Rs equal to 1. The synthesized compounds were characterized by X-ray powder diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), solid-state NMR, and infrared spectroscopy. The way the grafted organo-phosphonate groups were bonded to the layers of the host structure was suggested. The effect of ZP derivatives was assessed on cell proliferation, and the results showed that after 7 days of incubation, none of the samples showed a decrease in cell proliferation.

Layer like porous materials with hierarchical structure

Many chemical compositions produce layered solids consisting of extended sheets with thickness not greater than a few nanometers. The layers are weakly bonded together in a crystal and can be modified into various nanoarchitectures including porous hierarchical structures. Several classes of 2-dimensional (2D) materials have been extensively studied and developed because of their potential usefulness as catalysts and sorbents. They are discussed in this review with focus on clays, layered transition metal oxides, silicates, layered double hydroxides, metal(iv) phosphates and phosphonates, especially zirconium, and zeolites. Pillaring and delamination are the primary methods for structural modification and pore tailoring. The reported approaches are described and compared for the different classes of materials. The methods of characterization include identification by X-ray diffraction and microscopy, pore size analysis and activity assessment by IR spectroscopy and catalytic testing. The discovery of layered zeolites was a fundamental breakthrough that created unprecedented opportunities because of (i) inherent strong acid sites that make them very active catalytically, (ii) porosity through the layers and (iii) bridging of 2D and 3D structures. Approximately 16 different types of layered zeolite structures and modifications have been identified as distinct forms. It is also expected that many among the over 200 recognized zeolite frameworks can produce layered precursors. Additional advances enabled by 2D zeolites include synthesis of layered materials by design, hierarchical structures obtained by direct synthesis and top-down preparation of layered materials from 3D frameworks.

Facile synthesis of tin phosphite nanosheets via exfoliated bulk crystals: Electronic structure and piezoelectric property

Tin phosphite nanosheets were synthesized by a facile exfoliation method. SnHPO3 nanosheets with a thickness of ∼2.6nm readily form a stable colloidal suspension in ethanol using ultrasonic method. Structures and optical properties of the obtained nanosheets were investigated. The prepared SnHPO3 nanosheets exhibit an obvious blue-shift in UV absorbance compared with bulk SnHPO3 crystal materials. Moreover, the piezoelectric coefficients of SnHPO3 monolayer were calculated based on density functional theory, which are larger than that of h-BN monolayer, indicating this material could be a good candidate for designing electro-optical nano-devices.

Layered Materials with Catalytic Applications: Pillared and Delaminated Zeolites from MWW Precursors

Delaminated and pillared zeolites are an innovative family of molecular sieves which introduced a different concept inside the synthesis of active catalysts or inorganic supports. These types of materials exhibit an elevated accessibility due to their open structure, characterized by the high external surface area without imposed restrictions controlled by the pore sizes. These open zeolites are conformed by crystalline ordered (pillared zeolites) or disordered (delaminated zeolites) individual layers, exhibiting textural properties which are favorable to carry out catalytic processes in which it is necessary to employ catalysts with completely accessible active sites. The elevated external surface area of these zeolites is profitable to generate more specific organic-inorganic materials, acting in this case as stable inorganic matrixes. The preparation of this open type-zeolites family is based on the modification of, previously synthesized, zeolitic precursors which are preexpanded to obtain the final delaminated or pillared zeolites which exhibit very different physicochemical properties compared with the starting precursors. Along this paper, the most relevant MWW-type high accessible zeolitic materials will be considered. Their nature, characteristics, and reactivity will be shown in the function of the employed synthesis method for their preparation and the postsynthesis treatments carried out, tuning their properties.

Unilamellar nanosheet of layered manganese cobalt nickel oxide and its heterolayered film with polycations

The exfoliation of layered Li[Mn(1/3)Co(1/3)Ni(1/3)]O(2) into individual monolayers could be achieved through the intercalation of quaternary tetramethylammonium (TMA(+)) ions into protonated metal oxide. An effective exfoliation occurred when the TMA(+)/H(+) ratio was 0.5-50. Reactions outside this range produced no colloidal suspension, but all the manganese cobalt nickel oxides precipitated. Atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy clearly demonstrated that exfoliated manganese cobalt nickel oxide nanosheets have a nanometer-level thickness, underscoring the formation of unilamellar nanosheets. The maintenance of the hexagonal atomic arrangement of the manganese cobalt nickel oxide layer upon the exfoliation was confirmed by selected area electron diffraction analysis. According to diffuse reflectance ultraviolet--visible spectroscopy, the exfoliated manganese cobalt nickel oxides displayed distinct absorption peaks at approximately 354 and approximately 480 nm corresponding to the d-d transitions of octahedral metal ions, which contrasted with the featureless spectrum of the pristine metal oxide. In the light of zeta potential data showing the negative surface charge of manganese cobalt nickel oxide nanosheets, a heterolayered film of manganese cobalt nickel oxide and conductive polymers could be prepared through the successive coating process with colloidal suspension and polycations. The UV--vis and X-ray diffraction studies verified the layer-by-layer ordered structure of the obtained heterolayered film, respectively.

Synthesis and Characterization of Four Metal−Organophosphonates with One-, Two-, and Three-Dimensional Structures

A series of metal-organic hybrid compounds were synthesized using two new phosphonic acids, pyridyl-4-phosphonic acid and p-xylylenediphosphonic acid (H(2)O(3)PCH(2)C(6)H(4)CH(2)PO(3)H(2)). The phosphonic acid ligands have been synthesized from their corresponding bromides following two different types of reactions. The reaction of pyridyl-4-phosphonic acid with three different divalent metal salts results in the formation of molecular structures of different dimensionality. The reaction of Cu(II) with the phosphonic acid under hydrothermal conditions yields a three-dimensional (3D) open framework structure having the molecular formula [Cu(4)(NC(5)H(4)-PO(3))(4)(H(2)O)(10)] (1). The reactions with Mn(II) and Zn(II) salts with the same phosphonic acid resulted in a two-dimensional layered and a dinuclear compound with molecular formulas [Mn(3)(NC(5)H(4)-PO(3))(4)(H(2)O)(6)(ClO(4))(2)] (2) and [Zn(2)(NHC(5)H(4)-PO(3)H)(2)Cl(4)] (3), respectively. Compound 1 crystallizes in the triclinic crystal system having space group P with structural parameters a = 7.4564(15) Angstrom, b = 9.1845(19) Angstrom, c = 11.582(2) Angstrom, alpha = 100.842(3) degrees, beta = 104.303(3) degrees, gamma = 94.774(3) degrees, and Z = 1. Compound 2 crystallizes in the triclinic crystal system, space group P, with structural parameters a = 7.6871(14) Angstrom, b = 10.576(2) Angstrom, c = 14.470(3)Angstrom, alpha = 81.340(3) degrees, beta = 81.561(3) degrees, gamma = 68.757(3) degrees, and Z = 2, whereas compound 3 crystallizes in a monoclinic crystal system with space group P2(1)/n. The structural parameters are as follows: a = 8.4969 (5) Angstrom, b = 9.3911 (5) Angstrom, c = 12.3779 (6) Angstrom, beta = 90.860(17) degrees, and Z = 4. The pyridylphosphonate ligand shows different ligation behavior toward the three divalent metal ions. On the other hand, p-xylylenediphosphonic acid on reaction with Co(II) formed a 3D compound [Co(2)(O(3)PCH(2)C(6)H(4)CH(2)PO(3))(2)(H(2)O)(2)] (4) with a layered and pillared structure. Compound 4 crystallizes in an orthorhombic crystal system with space group Pnma. The structural parameters are a = 21.744(4) Angstrom, b = 5.6744(10) Angstrom, c = 4.7927(9) Angstrom, and Z = 4.

Preparation of polyacrylamide and gamma-zirconium phosphate nanocomposites by intercalative polymerization

A new inorganic-organic nanocomposite of polyacrylamide (PAM) and gamma-zirconium phosphate (gamma-ZrP) was prepared by intercalative polymerization. Intercalation of acrylamide (AM) monomer in gamma-ZrP was investigated by sonochemical and refluxing methods. High-intensity ultrasound does not induce the polymerization of AM but enhances greatly the intercalation rate. On the other hand, ultrasound also enhanced hydrolyzation of -CONH2 and shrinkage of PAM gel. The interlayer distance of AM-intercalated gamma-ZrP is 16.4 A. The polymerization and intercalation of AM occurred nearly at the same time by refluxing method. The same gamma-ZrP/PAM nanocomposites were obtained with (NH4)2S2O8 treatment.

Cobalt phosphonates: an unusual polymeric cobalt phosphonate containing a clathrated phosphonate anion and a layered bisphosphonate

Novel cobalt phosphonates [Co(H(2)O)(4)(H(4)L)][H(2)L].2H(2)O, 1, and Co(2)(H(2)O)(2)(L), 2, have been synthesized from 1,8-octylenediphosphonic acid (H(4)L). 1 has been fully characterized by X-ray single-crystal data, TGA, IR spectroscopy, and chemical analysis. The compound crystallizes in the triclinic space group P1 with a = 5.5415(8) A, b = 8.6382(8) A, c = 16.794 (2) A, alpha = 87.694(2) degrees, beta = 80.859(2) degrees, gamma = 76.005(2) degrees, V = 770.11(19) A(3), and Z = 1. A cobalt atom lies in the center of symmetry and is octahedrally coordinated by two oxygen atoms from two undissociated diphosphonic ligands H(4)L and four molecules of water. The cobalt atom and undissociated ligand H(4)L are combined to form polymeric chains along the c-axis, resulting in the formation of a one-dimensional framework. The positive charge on the cobalt atom remains upon coordination and is balanced by a negatively charged uncoordinated ligand (H(2)L) found as a clathrate in the lattice. Two lattice water molecules, hydrogen-bonded with the coordinated and uncoordinated ligands, complete the structure. The metal phosphonate chains are held together and bridge the uncoordinated anionic ligands by a number of strong hydrogen bonds, which make the structure possible. Cobalt phosphonate 2 has been characterized by TGA measurements, IR spectroscopy, and chemical analysis. The compound has a layered structure with an interlayer spacing of 14.26 A. Metal phosphonate layers are cross-linked by hydrocarbon chains. The water molecules are coordinated to the metal atom. According to IR data, compound 2 contains two equivalent PO bonds and one different PO bond, which may be a result of the different types of Co-O-P connectivity within one phosphonic group.

A Novel Cadmium Aminophosphonate: X-ray Powder Diffraction Structure, Solid-State IR and NMR Spectroscopic Determination of the Fine Structure of the Organic Moieties

A new divalent cadmium phosphonate, Cd2Cl2(H2O)4(H2L), has been synthesized from the ethylenediamine-N,N'-bis(methylenephosphonic acid) (H4L). The obtained microcrystalline compound has been characterized by solid-state IR spectra and 13C, 31P, and 113Cd CP MAS NMR. The static 13P NMR spectra have been also recorded to give the delta11, delta22, and delta33 chemical shift parameters for both compounds. The spectral data, collected for Cd2Cl2(H2O)4(H2L), are in an agreement with its X-ray powder diffraction structure solved with the cell dimensions a = 16.6105(10), b = 7.1572(4), and c = 6.8171(4) A and beta = 98.327(4) degrees. The octahedral coordination sphere of the cadmium atoms consists of two phosphonate oxygen atoms, two water oxygen atoms, and the two chlorine atoms. Cadmium atoms are bridged by the chlorine atoms forming four-membered rings. The phosphorus atoms exhibit a tetrahedral coordination with two oxygen atoms bonded to the cadmium atoms with P-O distances of 1.503(10) and 1.504(10) A. The third oxygen atom, showing a longer P-O distance (1.546(9) A), is not bonded to the metal center, nor is it bonded to a proton. The combined IR and NMR proton-phosphorus cross-polarization kinetic data together with the X-ray data confirm that the cadmium phosphonate has the zwitterionic structure (NH2(+)CH2P(O2Cd2)O-) similar to the initial aminophosphonic acid H4L.

Redoxable nanosheet crystallites of MnO2 derived via delamination of a layered manganese oxide

This paper reports on the swelling and exfoliation behavior of a layered protonic manganese oxide, H(0.13)MnO(2).0.7H(2)O, in a solution of tetrabutylammonium (TBA) hydroxide and the formation and characterizations of unilamellar two-dimensional crystallites of MnO(2). At low doses of TBA ions, layered manganese oxide was observed to undergo normal intercalation, yielding a TBA intercalated phase with a gallery height of 1.25 nm. With a large excess of TBA ions, osmotic swelling occurred, giving rise to a very large intersheet separation of 3.5-7 nm. In an intermediate TBA concentration range, the sample exhibited a broad X-ray diffraction profile with superimposed diffraction features due to intercalation and osmotic swelling. The component responsible for the broad profile was isolated by centrifuging the mixture twice at different speeds, and the recovered colloid was identified as a pile of MnO(2) nanosheets, corresponding to the individual host layer of the precursor layered manganese oxide. Observations by transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy revealed high two-dimensional anisotropy with a lateral dimension of submicrometers and a thickness of approximately 0.8 nm. The nanosheet exhibited broad optical absorption with a peak at 374 nm (epsilon = 1.13 x 10(4) mol(-1) dm(3) cm(-1)). The restacking process of the colloidal MnO(2) nanosheets was followed by aging the colloid at a relative humidity of 95%. The broad diffraction pattern due to the exfoliated sheets weakened with time and eventually resolved into two sharp distinct profiles attributable to a TBA intercalation compound with an intersheet spacing of 1.72 nm and an osmotically swollen hydrate with >10 nm at a very early stage. As drying progressed, the former phase became more abundant without a change in interlayer distance, while the degree of swelling of the latter phase gradually decreased to 2.7 nm that remained unchanged on further aging. Subsequent drying at a lower humidity collapsed the 2.7 nm phase. The resulting single 1.72 nm phase was dehydrated by heating at 150 degrees C to produce a phase with a contracted interlayer spacing of 1.3 nm.

Preparation of nano-structured polymeric proton conducting membranes for use in fuel cells

We briefly discuss the state of the art of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells and suggest that the main obstacles to the commercial development of these fuel cells are essentially the high costs and poor characteristics of present proton conducting membranes. A strategy for the preparation of improved nanocomposite membranes based on the introduction of proton conducting lamell? in the polymeric matrix of present ionomeric membranes is then discussed. Due to their high proton conductivity (in some cases even higher than 10(-1) S cm(-1)), tailor made lamellae obtained by exfoliation of superacid metal (IV) phosphonates are particularly suitable for the preparation of these hybrid membranes. The expected positive influence of the dispersed lamellae on important properties of proton conducting membranes, such as swelling, mechanical resistance, proton transport, and diffusion of methanol, are also discussed. The methods used to obtain good lamellar dispersions into ionomeric polymers and the preparation and main characteristics of some hybrid membranes are also briefly described. The presence of nanoparticles of metal phosphonates in the electrodic interfaces Nafion/Pt already considerably improves the electrochemical characteristics of fuel cells in the temperature range 80-130 degrees C. The increased working temperature of the fuel cell considerably reduces CO poisoning of the platinum electrodes and allows better control of the cooling system, thus overcoming important obstacles to the development of medium temperature PEM fuel cells.

Mechanism of the Topotactic Formation of gamma-Zirconium Phosphate Covalently Pillared with Diphosphonate Groups

The topotactic reaction of gamma-ZrPO(4)[O(2)P(OH)(2)].2H(2)O (gamma-ZrP) with benzenediphosphonic acid was examined in water and in acetone-water mixtures. This reaction was found to take place in water only on the external surface of the microcrystals, and pillared compounds were never obtained, even after very long reaction times. On the contrary, covalently pillared compounds were quickly obtained in acetone-water mixtures. The mechanism of the latter topotactic reaction was investigated by determining the rate of the phosphate groups released and the rate of the benzenediphosphonates taken up by gamma-ZrP over a long time (50 days). These data showed that pillared derivatives of gamma-ZrP can be obtained because colloidal dispersions of exfoliated lamellae are formed in acetone-water mixtures. The diphosphonate group acts initially as a monovalent species, replacing only one dihydrogen phosphate group on the surface of the exfoliated gamma-lamellae. The colloidal and partially derivatized lamellae thus formed can interact with each other by forming polylamellar pillared systems. When the number of pillared lamellae exceeds a given value (usually 5-6), flocculation of the colloidal gamma-ZrP takes place. Topotactic reactions between packets of pillared lamellae may also continue in the flocculated system. Therefore, the average number of the pillared lamellae slowly increases over time.

Mechanism of the Formation of Organic Derivatives of gamma-Zirconium Phosphate by Topotactic Reactions with Phosphonic Acids in Water and Water-Acetone Media

The rates of the topotactic reactions between gamma-zirconium phosphate and phenylphosphonic acid in water and water-acetone mixtures at various temperatures were investigated. The slow rates of the process in aqueous medium or in water-acetone mixtures at temperatures lower than 50 degrees C were attributed to a slow interdiffusion of O(2)P(OH)(2)(-) and O(2)P(OH)(C(6)H(5))(-) groups in the interlayer region of gamma-ZrP. Similar to ion-exchange processes, the replacement begins in the external part of the interlayer region and progresses toward the central region with the formation of an advancing phase boundary. In water-acetone mixtures at temperatures higher than 60 degrees C an exfoliation of gamma-ZrP was found. Thus, the initial process is very fast since the substitution can take place directly on the surface of the exfoliated gamma-lamellae. However, after a certain degree of substitution, a flocculation of the colloidal dispersion, which slows down the rate of the further topotactic substitution, was observed. Some considerations on the topotactic substitution occurring on the surface of the exfoliated lamellae and on the mechanism of the diffusion of the exchanging species in the interlayer region are also reported.