Nanocrystalline and stacking-disordered β-cristobalite AlPO4 chemically stabilized at room temperature: synthesis, physical characterization, and X-ray powder diffraction data

This paper reports the first successful synthesis and the structural characterization of nanocrystalline and stacking-disordered beta-cristobalite AlPO4 that is chemically stabilized down to room temperature and free of crystalline impurity phases. Several batches of the title compound were synthesized and thoroughly characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy, selected area electron diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy mapping in SEM, solid-state P-31 nuclear magnetic resonance (P-31-NMR) spectroscopy including the TRAPDOR method, differential thermal analysis (DTA), gas-sorption methods, optical emission spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, and ion chromatography. Parameters that are critical for the synthesis were identified and optimized. The synthesis procedure yields reproducible results and is well documented. A high-quality XRD pattern of the title compound is presented, which was collected with monochromatic copper radiation at room temperature in a wide 2 theta range of 5 degrees-100 degrees. (C) 2017 International Centre for Diffraction Data.