Layered strontium phenylphosphonate: synthesis, thermal properties and crystal structure from X-ray powder diffraction data

Journal article, 2002

Strontium phenylphosphonate, Sr(PhPO3H)2, was synthesized by the reaction of strontium carbonate and phenylphosphonic acid. The compound was structurally characterized by Rietveld refinement on X-ray powder diffraction data. It consists of a layered structure with inorganic framework of SrO8 polyhedra from which phenyl groups are pointing out. The compound is isomorphous with the already known calcium and barium phenylphosphonates. Infrared spectroscopy analysis shows the presence of (P-)O-H...O hydrogen bonds in the solid material. The thermal behavior of the compound in the range 30–650°C, studied by thermogravimetry (TG), differential thermal analysis (DTA) and X-ray powder thermodiffractometry, revealed that strontium phenylphosphonate is stable up to 330°C. The compound undergoes consequent thermal decomposition and phase transitions above 330°C temperatures until it converts to crystalline Sr(PO3)2 above 570°C.