Hydronium Ions on the Surface of a Partially Hydrolyzed α-Zirconium Phosphate: Solid-State 2 H and 31 P MAS NMR Evidence.

Characterization of the α-zirconium phosphates 1-D 2 Oh and 1-D 2 Oh/dr , partially hydrolyzed with D 2 O, by powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and multinuclear solid-state NMR techniques led to an unprecedented observation of D 3 O + ions located on the surface and stabilized by hydrogen bonds. These ions are formed after the surface phosphate groups have been lost.