Straightforward synthesis of a novel hydronium titanium oxyfluoride

Hydronium titanium oxyfluoride was easily obtained by the thermal decomposition of commercial hexafluorotitanic acid using boric acid as fluoride scavenger. Two synthetic routes were studied: conventional thermal treatment in an oven at 85 °C for 20 h and microwave irradiation for 3 min. Powder X-ray and neutron diffraction confirmed that a non-stoichiometric hydronium titanium oxyfluoride isostructural with NH4TiOF3 has been obtained. FT-IR and UV–vis characterization of the as-prepared oxyfluoride is also presented. The hydronium titanium oxyfluoride has prospective applications as a UV-blocking material and solid-phase catalyst.