The crystal structures of the ion conductors (NH+4)Zr2(PO4)3and (H3O+)Zr2(PO4)3

The crystal structures of (NH⁺₄)Zr₂(PO₄)₃ and (H₃O⁺)Zr₂(PO₄)₃ have been determined from neutron time-of-flight powder diffraction data obtained at 15 K. Both compounds are rhombohedral, $\text{R}\text{3}\text{c}$, with cell parameters a=8.7088(1) and c=24.2197(4) Å for the ammonium compound and a=8.7528(2), c=23.6833(11) Å for the hydronium compound. In both cases the ions are completely localized in the type I cavities and hydrogen bonded to lattice oxygens. The measured unit cell parameters are relatively large for this class of compounds but the entrance ways into the cavities are still too small to allow for unrestricted movement of the ions. Thus the low conductivity of the hydronium ion is related to this and other structural features.