Crystalline microporous metal phosphonates

Crystalline microporous metal phosphonates with open frameworks are presented including their design, synthesis, characterization and potential applications. In particular, the structure, topology and physical properties of microporous metal phosphonates are analyzed.;Infinite second building units of inorganic rods are applied to the metal phosphonate frameworks which lead to a crystalline zinc microporous phosphonate. The phosphonate monoester is presented as a ligand for a crystalline microporous lanthanide material with a cubic topology. Also, a microporous aluminum phosphonate is presented. These structures are characterized by powder X-ray diffraction and crystallography when possible. The thermal and sorption properties of the materials are also presented which show breathing effects in some cases.;Post-synthetic modification of the networks is also examined. This was attempted in two ways: by functionalizing groups lining the pores and improving porosity by cleavage of the alkyl groups of the phosphonate esters.