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In the last decade transition metal phosphates (TMPs) captured major interest due to their high electrochemical activity useful for electrode materials, supercapacitors or batteries. Importantly, TMPs are known to exhibit high proton conductivity of the order of >10-2 -10-5 S/cm from 25°C to temperatures as high as 400°C. The crucial milestone in the research on the applicational use of TMPs in all their varieties is an ability to obtain, explore and optimize different compositions and structures, both crystalline and amorphous. Thus, we elucidate the structures of amorphous and crystalline Ni- and Co phosphate phases, as they develop upon heating. This method relies on the thermal decomposition of a crystalline M-struvite precursor, i.e. NH4MPO4•6H2O (M = Mg, Ni, Co, NixCo1-x etc. Here, coincidently volatile components such as H2O or NH3 degas out of the compound resulting in a phase transformation to amorphous or crystalline metal phosphate phases depending on the reaction conditions.
For this we used a suite of advanced methods such as FTIR, FT-RS and synchrotron-based XAS. Ni-struvite transforms to amorphous phases over a broad range of temperatures (90°C < T < 600°C) in which it remains in an octahedral coordination environment. On the other hand, Co-struvite treatment leads to multiple crystalline phases with only small amounts of short-lived amorphous phases.
Importantly, the occurring amorphous phases exhibit uniform mesoporous frameworks (2–5 nm wide pore channels, specific surface area of 100 m2g−1 and a pore volume of 0.13 cm3g−1) at low temperatures (<200°C) while the crystalline compounds can be used as proton conductors demonstrating values of >10-4 S/cm at 25°C. Consequently, we investigated the amorphization/evolution of mesoporosity, the proton-conducting properties and the complex local structure with in- and ex-situ approaches during thermal treatment. Additionally, to this low cost, environmentally friendly and simple one pot synthesis, the precursor M-struvites could grow as a recovery product from industrial waste waters. In such a way, they would to a recycling economy of sought-after commodities like phosphorus or transition metals.
Evolution of mesoporous frameworks from precipitated struvite-structured metal phosphate materialsls
(2022)
Mesoporous transition metal phosphates (TMPs) have attracted major interest due to their high (electro-)catalytic activity suitable for H2 generation, supercapacitors or batteries. Typically, mesoporous materials are synthesized via a template-based route. This way is in the case of TMP because the surfactants used are difficult to remove due to the sensitivity of the mesoporous framework. We present a template-free method including the formation of a precursor phase called M-struvite (NH4MPO4•6H2O, M = Mg2+, Ni2+, Co2+, Ni2+xCo2+1-x) to synthesize mesoporous and amorphous metal phosphates. This method relies on the thermal decomposition of crystalline M-struvite precursors to an amorphous and simultaneous mesoporous phase associated with the degassing of NH3 and H2O. The temporal evolution of mesoporous frameworks and the response of the coordination metal coordination environment was followed with diffraction and spectroscopy based in-situ and ex-situ methods. We highlight the systematic differences in absolute surface area, pore shape, pore size, and phase transitions between the chemical systems. In a complex amorphous structure, thermal decomposed Mg-, Ni- and NixCo1-x-struvites exhibit high surface areas and pore volumes for phosphate materials with a spherical to channel-like pore geometry (240 m²g-1 and 0.32 cm-3 g-1 for Mg and 90 m²g-1 and 0.13 cm-3 g-1 for Ni). In addition to this low-cost, environmentally friendly and simple synthesis, M-struvites could grow as a recycling product from industrial and agricultural wastewaters. These waste products could be upcycled through a simple thermal treatment for further applications.
Evolution of mesoporous frameworks from precipitated struvite-structured metal phosphate materials
(2022)
Mesoporous transition metal phosphates (TMPs) have attracted major interest due to their high (electro-)catalytic activity suitable for H2 generation, supercapacitors or batteries. Typically, mesoporous materials are synthesized via a template-based route. This way is in the case of TMP because the surfactants used are difficult to remove due to the sensitivity of the mesoporous framework. We present a template-free method including the formation of a precursor phase called M-struvite (NH4MPO4•6H2O, M = Mg2+, Ni2+, Co2+, Ni2+xCo2+1-x) to synthesize mesoporous and amorphous metal phosphates. This method relies on the thermal decomposition of crystalline M-struvite precursors to an amorphous and simultaneous mesoporous phase associated with the degassing of NH3 and H2O. The temporal evolution of mesoporous frameworks and the response of the coordination metal coordination environment was followed with diffraction and spectroscopy based in-situ and ex-situ methods. We highlight the systematic differences in absolute surface area, pore shape, pore size, and phase transitions between the chemical systems. In a complex amorphous structure, thermal decomposed Mg-, Ni- and NixCo1-x-struvites exhibit high surface areas and pore volumes for phosphate materials with a spherical to channel-like pore geometry (240 m²g-1 and 0.32 cm-3 g-1 for Mg and 90 m²g-1 and 0.13 cm-3 g-1 for Ni). In addition to this low-cost, environmentally friendly and simple synthesis, M-struvites could grow as a recycling product from industrial and agricultural wastewaters. These waste products could be upcycled through a simple thermal treatment for further applications.
Trash to treasure: recovery of transition metal phosphates for (electro-)catalytical applications
(2022)
Wastewaters containing high concentrations of NH4+, PO43- and transition metals are environmentally harmful and toxic pollutants. At the same time phosphorous and transition metals constitute valuable resources. Here, we report the synthesis routes for Co- and Ni-struvites (NH4MPO4∙6H2O, M = Ni2+, Co2+) out of aqueous solutions resembling synthetic/industrial waste water compositions, and allowing for P, ammonia and metal co-precipitation. Furthermore, the as-obtained struvites were further up-cycled. When heated, these transition metal phosphates (TMPs) demonstrate significant changes in the degree of crystallinity/coordination environment involving a high amount of amorphous phases and importantly develop mesoporosity (Figure 1). In this regard, amorphous and mesoporous TMPs are known to be highly promising (electro-)catalysts.
Amorphous phases do not represent a simple “disordered” crystal but more a complex system with a broad range of compositions and physicochemical properties, which remain mostly unknown. Consequently, we investigated the recrystallization and amorphization process during thermal treatment and a resolved the complex amorphous/crystalline structures (Figure 2). As a proof-of-principle for their applicational use, the as-obtained TMPs demonstrate significant proton conductivity properties similar to apatite-like structures from room to high temperatures (>800°C).
Hence, we have developed a promising recycling route in which environmental harmful contaminants like PO43-, NH4+ and 3d metals would be extracted out of waste waters in the form of precursor raw materials. These raw materials can be then further up-cycled through a simple thermal treatment for their specific application in electrocatalysis.