Intercalation of Poly(oxyethylene) Compounds into the MOXO₄ (M = V, Nb; X = P, As) Host Lattice

Abstract

Diethylene glycol (DEG), triethylene glycol (TEG), poly(ethylene glycol)s (PEG 200, PEG 400, and PEG 1000), and tripropylene glycol (TPG) were intercalated into vanadyl phosphate and isostructural niobyl phosphate and arsenate. X-ray powder diffraction patterns as a function of temperature were also measured. Depending on the temperature of the reaction, two phases were formed. Two types of VOPO4 intercalates were formed depending on the temperature of the reaction (40 and 80 °C). The high-temperature phase was also formed by heating the low-temperature product. All of the intercalates are stable in dry environment but decompose slowly in humid air. It is presumed that the chains of the guest are deposited parallel to the host layer with every other oxygen atom of the guest coordinated to the vanadium or niobium atoms of the host layer. The chains are arranged in a bimolecular or monomolecular way in the interlayer space.