Mesoporous hybrid zirconium oxophenylphosphate synthesized in absence of any structure directing agent

A new organic–inorganic hybrid mesoporous zirconium oxophenylphosphate (ZPP-1) has been synthesized hydrothermally at 443 K by using phenylphosphonic acid (PPA) as phosphorus source in absence of any structure directing agent. Powder XRD, TEM, FE SEM, N2 sorption, CHN and ICP-AES chemical analyses, 13C CP/MAS and 31P MAS NMR, UV–visible and FT IR spectroscopic tools and thermal analysis were employed to characterize this novel material. XRD, N2 sorption and TEM image analysis suggested the existence of multi-lamellar structure of the pore wall with large micropores and mesopores having peak maximums of ca. 1.5 and 5.0–6.0 nm, respectively in this ZPP-1 material. Interestingly, this hybrid material showed very high thermal stability together with retention of nanostructure and phenyl group when heated upto 723 K. ZPP-1 showed fairly high H2 adsorption capacity under atmospheric pressure at 77 K. Possible templating role played by the framework phenyl groups has been discussed.