Aluminum phosphate is a compound. In nature, it occurs as the mineral berlinite. [3] Many synthetic forms of aluminum phosphate are known. They have a zeolite-like framework structure and some are used as catalysts, ion exchangers or molecular sieves. [4] Commercially available aluminum phosphate gels are available.

AlPO4 and Si2O4, silicon dioxide and other electrons. Perlinite looks like quartz and has a structure similar to quartz, with silicon replaced by Al and P. AlO4 and PO4 tetrahedra are arranged alternately. Like quartz, AlPO4 is chiral [5] and piezoelectric. [6] When heated, crystalline AlPO4 (aluminum dioxide) transforms into tridymite and cristobalite forms, mirroring the behavior of silica.

There are many types of aluminum phosphate molecular sieves, collectively referred to as "ALPO". The first ones were reported in 1982 [8] and they all have the same AlPO4 chemical composition and have a framework structure with microcavities. The framework consists of alternating AlO4 and PO4 tetrahedra. The denser cavity-free crystalline berlinite shares the same alternating AlO4 and PO4 tetrahedra. [7] The aluminophosphate framework structure differs in the orientation of the AlO4 tetrahedrons and the PO4 tetrahedrons to form cavities of different sizes, in this respect they are similar to the aluminosilicate zeolites except that they have charged skeleton. The typical preparation of aluminophosphates involves the hydrothermal reaction of phosphoric acid and aluminum in hydroxide form, aluminum salts such as aluminum nitrates or alkoxides, at controlled pH in the presence of organic amines. [9] These organic molecules act as templates (now called structure-directing agents, SDAs) to direct the growth of porous frameworks.