M(H2O)(PO3C10H6OH)·(H2O)0.5 (M = Co, Mn, Zn, Cu): a new series of layered metallophosphonate compounds obtained from 6-hydroxy-2-naphthylphosphonic acid

Four new metallophosphonates M(H₂O)(PO₃C₁₀H₆OH)·(H₂O)_0.5 (M = Mn, Co, Cu, Zn) were obtained as single crystal and polycrystalline powders by hydrothermal synthesis from the precursors 6-hydroxy-2-naphthylphosphonic acid and the corresponding metal salts. These analogous hybrids crystalized in the space group P12₁/c1 in a lamellar structure. Their layered structures consisted of inorganic [M(H₂O)(PO₃C)] layers stacked with organic bilayers of 6-hydroxy-2-naphthyl moieties "HO-C₁₀H₆" and free water molecules. Their structures were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction and confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction and Le Bail refinement for the powder sample. The removal of water upon heating at 250 °C was studied by thermogravimetric analysis and temperature-dependent powder X-ray diffraction. Their magnetic properties were studied by SQUID magnetometry and show antiferromagnetic behavior for the Co analogue and the occurrence of a canted antiferromagnetic order at T_N = 12.2 K for the Mn analogue. The Cu compound displayed an unprecedented ferromagnetic behavior. Their absorption and luminescence properties were investigated and revealed that the ligand and the compounds displayed a common behavior below a wavelength of 400 nm. Specific absorption bands were found in the compounds with Co²⁺ and Cu²⁺ at 539 nm and 849 nm, respectively. Moreover, particular luminescence bands were found for the compounds with Mn²⁺, Co²⁺ and Zn²⁺ at 598 nm, 551 nm and 530 and 611 nm, respectively.

Selected-Control Synthesis of Metal Phosphonate Nanoparticles and Nanorods

By surfactant-assisted methods, nanoscale Co(O3PC6H5).H2O species of different morphologies, namely, nanoparticles and nanorods, have been successfully synthesized and characterized. Upon removal of the organic part of the compound, peculiar Co2P2O7 porous nanorods formed.