Are the ‘cave’ minerals archerite (K,NH4)H2PO4 and biphosphammite (K,NH4)H2PO4 identical? A molecular structural study

The molecular structure of the mineral archerite ((K,NH4)H2PO4) has been determined and compared with that of biphosphammite ((NH4,K)H2PO4). Raman spectroscopy and infrared spectroscopy has been used to characterise these ‘cave’ minerals. Both minerals originated from the Murra-el-elevyn Cave, Eucla, Western Australia. The mineral is formed by the reaction of the chemicals in bat guano with calcite substrates. Raman and infrared bands are assigned to H2PO4-, OH and NH stretching vibrations. The Raman band at 981 cm-1 is assigned to the HOP stretching vibration. Bands in the 1200 to 1800 cm-1 region are associated with NH4+ bending modes. The molecular structure of the two minerals appear to be very similar, and it is therefore concluded that the two minerals are identical.

Vibrational spectroscopy of synthetic archerite (K,NH4)H2PO4 : and in comparison with the natural cave mineral

In order to mimic the formation of archerite in cave minerals, the mineral analogue has been synthesised. The cave mineral is formed by the reaction of the chemicals in bat guano with calcite substrates. X-ray diffraction proves that the synthesised archerite analogue was pure. The vibrational spectra of the synthesised mineral are compared with that of the natural cave mineral. Raman and infrared bands are assigned to H2PO4-, OH and NH stretching and bending vibrations. The Raman band at 917 cm-1 is assigned to the HOP stretching vibration of the H2PO4- units. Bands in the 1200 to 1800 cm-1 region are associated with NH4+ bending modes. Vibrational spectroscopy enables the molecular structure of archerite to be analysed.

A layered chlorophosphate, Na-3[Cd4Cl3(HPO4)(2)(H2PO4)(4)], containing Na+ ions in the interlamellar space

Reaction between CdCl2.H2O and NaH2PO4.H2O Under hydrothermal conditions gives rise to a new cadmium chlorophosphate of the formula Na-3[Cd4Cl3(HPO4)(2)(H2PO4)(4)] I. This material crystallizes in the orthorhombic system with space group Fmm2(no. 42). I has macroanionic layers of [Cd4Cl3(HPO4)(2)(H2PO4)(4)](3-) with Na+ ions in the interlamellar space. The discovery of such compounds suggests that metathetic reactions carried out under hydrothermal conditions may provide a novel route for the synthesis of new open-framework structures.

A novel one-dimensional manganese phosphomolybdate with rectangular cavities: [H3N(CH2)(4)NH3] (H3O)(2){[Mn(phen)(2)](4) [(MnMo12O30)-O-v(HPO4)(6)(H2PO4)2} center dot 4H(2)O

A novel manganese phosphomolybdate, [H3N(CH2)(4)NH3](H3O)(2){[Mn(phen)(2)](4)[(MnMovO30)-O-12(HPO4)(6)(H2PO4)(2)]} . 4H(2)O 1, has been hydrothermally synthesized and structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The crystal data: triclinic, P (1) over bar, a = 14.172(7) Angstrom, b = 16.547(2) Angstrom, c = 16.679(3) Angstrom, alpha = 62.881(12)degrees, beta = 73.83(3)degrees, gamma = 88.81(3)degrees. X-ray crystallography shows that the [Mn(phen)(2)] fragments are covalently bonded to the [Mn(Mo6P4)(2)] dimers leading to a one-dimensional chain with rectangular cavities occupied by tetramethylene-diamine cations and water molecules. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

A chromic molybdenum phosphate with a tunnel structure: hydrothermal synthesis and structure of (NH3CH2CH2NH3)(2) center dot (NH3CH2CH2NH2)(3)center dot[NaCr2Mo12O30(PO4)(HPO4)(4)(H2PO4)(3)]center dot 6H(2)O

A chromic molybdenum phosphate, (NH3CH2CH2NH3)(2).(NH3CH2CH2NH2)(3).[NaCr2Mo12O30(PO4)(HPO4)(3)]. 6H(2)O, involving molybdenum present in V oxidation, has been hydrothermally synthesized and structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction and IR spectrum. Deep brown-red crystals are formed in the triclinic system, space group P (1) over bar, a = 12.067(2), b = 14.677(3), c = 21.290(2) Angstrom, alpha = 80.940(10)degrees, beta = 82.960(10)degrees, gamma = 76.61(2)degrees. The structure of the title compound may be considered to be two [Mo6O15(HPO4)(H2PO4)(3)](5-) units bonded to a chromic atom, although several P-O groups are not protonated on account of coordination with a Na+ cation. The one-dimensional tunnels were formed in the solid of the title compound. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

A nickel molybdenum phosphate with tunnel: Hydrothermal synthesis and structure of (NH3CH2CH2NH3)(4)center dot(NH3CH2CH2NH2)center dot Na center dot[Ni2Mo12O30(PO4)(HPO4)(4)(H2PO4)(3)]center dot 6H(2)O

A nickel molybdenum phosphate, (NH3CH2CH2NH3)(4).(NH3CH2CH2NH2). Na .[Ni2Mo12O30(PO4)(HPO4)(4)(H2PO4)(3)]. 6H(2)O, invoicing molybdenum present in V oxidation, has been hydrothermally synthesized and structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Deep brown-red crystals are formed in the triclinic system, space group P (1) over bar, a = 12,011(2), b = 14,612(3), c = 21.252(4) Angstrom, alpha = 80.54(2)degrees, beta = 83.10(2)degrees, gamma = 76.29(2)degrees, V = 3561.4(12) Angstrom(3), Z = 2, lambda(MoK alpha) = 0.71073 Angstrom (R(F) = 0.0529 for 9880 reflections), Data mere collected on a Siemens P4 diffractometer at 20 degrees C in the range of 1.75 degrees < theta < 23.02 degrees using the omega-scan technique. The structure was solved by direct methods using the program SHELXTL-93 and refined with the method of fun-matrix least-squares on F-2. The structure of the title compound may be considered to be two [Mo6O15(HPO4)(H2PO4)(3)](5-) units bonded together with a nickel atom, although several P-O groups are not protonated on account of coordination with a Na+ cation, The one-dimensional tunnels were formed in the solid of the title compound. A probe reaction of the oxidation of acetaldehyde with H2O2 using the title compound as catalyst was carried out in a liquid- solid system, showing that the title compound had high catalytic activity in the reaction, (C) 1999 Academic Press.

A ferric molybdenum phosphate with a tunnel: hydrothermal synthesis and structure of (NH3CH2CH2NH3)(2)center dot(NH3CH2CH2NH2)(3)center dot Na center dot[Fe2Mo12O30(PO4)(HPO4)(4)(H2PO4)(3)]center dot 7H(2)O

A new ferric molybdenum phosphate containing a tunnel structure and crystallographically different clusters has been hydrothermally synthesized and structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. A probe reaction of the oxidation of acetaldehyde with H2O2 using the tide compound as catalyst was carried out in a liquid-solid system, showing that the title compound had high catalytic activity in the reaction. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.

Poly[(2,2 '-bipyridine-kappa N-2,N ')-(mu(2)-dihydrogen phosphato-kappa O-2 : O ')-(mu(2)-hydrogen phosphato-kappa O-2 : O ')-aluminium(III)], Al(2,2 '/bipy)-(HPO4)(H2PO4), a layered inorganic - organic hybrid material

The title compound, [Al(HPO4)(H2PO4)(C10H8N2)]n, consists of AlO4N2 octahedra vertex-linked to H2PO4 and HPO4 tetrahedra to form layers based on a (4,12)- net. The layers stack in an AAA fashion, held in place by pi-pi interactions between 2,2 '-bipyridine molecules coordinated to Al atoms in adjacent layers.

Electrical relaxation in proton conductor composites based on (NH4)H2PO4/TiO2

We report on electrical relaxation measurements of (1-x)NH4H2PO4-xTiO(2) (x = 0.1) composites by admittance spectroscopy, in the 40-Hz-5-MHz frequency range and at temperatures between 303 and 563 K. Simultaneous thermal and electrical measurements on the composites identify a stable crystalline phase between 373 and 463 K. The real part of the conductivity, sigma', shows a power-law frequency dependence below 523 K, which is well described by Jonscher's expression sigma' = sigma(0)(1 + (omega/omega(p))(n)), where sigma(0) is the dc conductivity, omega(p)/2 pi = f(p) is a characteristic relaxation frequency, and n is a fractional exponent between 0 and 1. Both sigma(0) and f(p) are thermally activated with nearly the same activation energy in the II region, indicating that the dispersive conductivity originates from the migration of protons. However, activation energies decrease from 0.55 to 0.35 eV and n increases toward 1.0, as the concentration of TiO2 nanoparticles increases, thus, enhancing cooperative correlation among moving ions. The highest dc conductivity is obtained for the composite x = 0.05 concentration, with values above room temperature about three orders of magnitude higher than that of crystalline NH4H2PO4 (ADP), reaching values on the order of 0.1 (Omega cm)(-1) above 543 K.

Vibrational spectroscopic analysis of taranakite (K,NH4)Al3(PO4)3(OH) •9(H2O) from the Jenolan Caves, Australia

Many phosphate containing minerals are found in the Jenolan Caves. Such minerals are formed by the reaction of bat guano and clays from the caves. Among these cave minerals is the mineral taranakite (K,NH4)Al3(PO4)3(OH)•9(H2O) which has been identified by X-ray diffraction. Jenolan Caves taranakite has been characterised by Raman spectroscopy. Raman and infrared bands are assigned to H2PO4-, OH and NH stretching vibrations. By using a combination of XRD and Raman spectroscopy, the existence of taranakite in the caves has been proven.