Sonochemical Synthesis of Zn₃(PO₄)₂.4H₂O and Zn₃(PO₄)₂ Powders

Abstract

Zn 3 (PO 4 ) 2 .4H 2 O, which is an important component of biomedical zinc phosphate cement, was synthesized from an aqueous solution of zinc oxide and orthophosphoric acid by the sonochemical method. This synthesis method yielded best results with respect to high purity and crystallinity. Structural characteristics of the compound were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). FT-IR spectra indicated the presences of different crystallographic PO 4 3 ion and H 2 O molecules for the Zn 3 (PO 4 ) 2 .4H 2 O and Zn 3 (PO 4 ) 2 structures. The resulting XRD patterns showed the purity phases of orthorhombic Zn 3 (PO 4 ) 2 .4H 2 O and the monoclinic for its final decomposed Zn 3 (PO 4 ) 2 product. The thermal stability, crystallite size, and plate-like microparticles of Zn 3 (PO 4 ) 2 .4H 2 O and Zn 3 (PO 4 ) 2 are different in this work from those in previous reports, which may be caused by the starting reagents and reaction condition for the sonochemical method.