Hydration of ZrW₂O₈ nanopowders under ambient conditions

We report hydration of ZrW₂O₈ under ambient conditions, and its effect on the negative coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of ZrW₂O₈. On storing under ambient conditions for six months, about 66% of the outer annular volume was hydrated to ZrW₂O₈·0.35H₂O, while after one year of storage the sample was hydrated to ZrW₂O₈·0.72H₂O. The CTE was determined by in-situ high temperature X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements in the temperature range from 25 to 200 °C. XPS and TGA were used to characterize the nature of bonding of the water in the ZrW₂O₈ structure. The negative CTE behavior of partially hydrated ZrW₂O₈·0.35H₂O remained intact, while on further hydration to ZrW₂O₈·0.72H₂O, negative CTE was not observed. The bonding of the water molecules to the ZrW₂O₈ structure were stronger than those of adsorbed water molecules but weaker than those of the structural hydroxyl ions. - Graphical abstract: Display Omitted - Highlights: • ZrW₂O₈ absorbs moisture in ambient conditions. • On hydration non-centrosymmetric α-ZrW₂O₈ transforms to centrosymmetric β-ZrW₂O₈. • NCTE character of ZrW₂O₈ was lost on complete hydration