A New Model for Aluminophosphate Formation: Transformation of a Linear Chain Aluminophosphate to Chain, Layer, and Framework Structures

Simple transformations of an unbranched parent chain lead to a diverse range of aluminophosphates with 1D chain, 2D porous layer, and 3D open-framework structures. A section of this chain, which has been hydrolyzed in one position leading to ring-opening, is shown schematically below. Reorientation of the chain followed by renewed condensation leads to, for example, two edge-sharing four-rings. In this case water acts as a catalyst; thus the amount of water present during the synthesis determines the degree of hydrolysis and therefore the resulting structure type.