Understanding Bonding Nature of α-Keggin Polyoxometalates[XW_(12)O_(40)]^(n−)(X=Al,Si,P,S):A Generalized Superatomic Perspective

α-Keggin polyoxometalates(POMs)[XW_(12)O_(40)]^(n−)(X=Al,Si,P,S)are widely used in batteries owing to their remarkable redox activity.However,the mechanism underlying the applications appears inconsistent with the widely accepted covalent bonding nature.Here,first-principles calculations show that XW_(12)are core–shell structures composed of a shell and an XO_(4)^(n−)core,both are stabilized by covalent interactions.Interestingly,owing to the presence of a substantial number of electrons in W_(12)O_(36)shell,the frontier molecular orbitals of XW_(12)are not only strongly delocalized but also exhibit superatomic properties with high-angular momentum electrons that do not conform to the Jellium model.Detailed analysis indicates that energetically high lying filled molecular orbitals(MOs)have reached unusually high-angular momentum characterized by quantum number K or higher,allowing for the accommodation of numerous electrons.This attribute confers strong electron acceptor ability and redox activity to XW_(12).Moreover,electrons added to XW_(12)still occupy the K orbitals and will not cause rearrangement of the MOs,thereby maintaining the stability of these structures.Our findings highlight the structure–activity relationship and provide a direction for tailor-made POMs with specific properties at atomic level.

Lindqvist-type Polyoxometalates Act as Anti-breast Cancer Drugs via Mitophagy-induced Apoptosis

Objective Lindqvist-type polyoxometalates(POMs)exhibit potential antitumor activities.This study aimed to examine the effects of Lindqvist-type POMs against breast cancer and the underlying mechanism.Methods Using different cancer cell lines,the present study evaluated the antitumor activities of POM analogues that were modified at the body skeleton based on molybdenum-vanadium-centered negative oxygen ion polycondensations with different side strains.Cell colony formation assay,autophagy detection,mitochondrial observation,qRT-PCR,Western blotting,and animal model were used to evaluate the antitumor activities of POMs against breast cancer cells and the related mechanism.Results MO-4,a Lindqvist-type POM linking a proline at its side strain,was selected for subsequent experiments due to its low half maximal inhibitory concentration in the inhibition of proliferation of breast cancer cells.It was found that MO-4 induced the apoptosis of multiple types of breast cancer cells.Mechanistically,MO-4 activated intracellular mitophagy by elevating mitochondrial reactive oxygen species(ROS)levels and resulting in apoptosis.In vivo,breast tumor growth and distant metastasis were significantly reduced following MO-4 treatment.Conclusion Collectively,the results of the present study demonstrated that the novel Lindqvist-type POM MO-4 may exhibit potential in the treatment of breast cancer.

Heterostructured Pt-Ni_(3)Mo_(3)N formed via ammonia-containing polyoxometalates for highly efficient electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution in acid medium

Constructing heterostructured nanohybrid is considered as a prominent route to fabricate alternative electrocatalysts to commercial Pt/C for hydrogen evolution reaction(HER).In this work,(NH_(4))_(4)[NiH_(6)Mo_(6)O_(4)]·5H_(2)O polyoxometalates(NiMo_(6))are adopted as the cluster precursors for simple fabrication of heterostructured Pt-Ni_(3)Mo_(3)N nanohybrids supported by carbon black(Pt-Ni_(3)Mo_(3)N/C)without using additional N sources.The improved porosity and enhanced electronic interaction of Pt-Ni_(3)Mo_(3)N/C should be attributed to the integration of Pt with NiMo_(6),which favors the mass transport,promotes the formation of exposed catalytic sites,and benefits the regulation of intrinsic activity.Thus,the as-obtained Pt-Ni_(3)Mo_(3)N/C exhibits impressive and durable HER performance as indicated by the low overpotential of 13.7 mV at the current density of 10 mA cm^(-2) and the stable overpotential during continuous working at 100 mA cm^(-2) for 100 h.This work provides significant insights for the synthesis of new highly active heterostructured electrocatalysts for renewable energy devices.

Polyoxometalates-Modulated Hydrophilic-Hydrophobic Composite Interfacial Material for Efficient Solar Water Evaporation and Salt Harvesting in High-Salinity Brine

Solar vapor generation(SVC)represents a promising technique for seawater desalination to alleviate the global water crisis and energy shortage.One of its main bottleneck problems is that the evaporation efficiency and stability are limited by salt crystallization under high-salinity brines.Herein,we demonstrate that the 3D porous melamine-foam(MF)wrapped by a type of self-assembling composite materials based on reduced polyoxometalates(i.e.heteropoly blue,HPB),oleic acid(OA),and polypyrrole(PPy)(labeled with MF@HPB-PPy_(n)-OA)can serve as efficient and stable SVC material at high salinity.Structural characterizations of MF@HPB-PPy_(n)-OA indicate that both hydrophilic region of HPBs and hydrophobic region of OA co-exist on the surface of composite materials,optimizing the hydrophilic and hydrophobic interfaces of the SVC materials,and fully exerting its functionality for ultrahigh water-evaporation and anti-salt fouling.The optimal MF@HPB-PPy_(10)-OA operates continuously and stably for over 100 h in 10wt%brine.Furthermore,MF@HPB-PPy_(10)-OA accomplishes complete salt-water separation of 10wt%brine with 3.3kgm^(-2)h^(-1)under 1-sun irradiation,yielding salt harvesting efficiency of 96.5%,which belongs to the record high of high-salinity systems reported so far and is close to achieving zero liquid discharge.Moreover,the low cost of MF@HPB-PPy_(10)-OA(2.56$m^(-2))suggests its potential application in the practical SVC technique.

Recent Advances on Polyoxometalate-Based Ion-Conducting Electrolytes for Energy-Related Devices

Solid-state electrolytes have attracted considerable attention in new energyrelated devices due to their high safety and broad application platform.Polyoxometalates(POMs)are a kind of molecular-level cluster compounds with unique structures.In recent years,owing to their abundant physicochemical properties(including high ionic conductivity and reversible redox activity),POMs have shown great potential in becoming a new generation of solid-state electrolytes.In this review,an overview is investigated about how POMs have evolved as ion-conducting materials from basic research to novel solid-state electrolytes in energy devices.First,some expressive POM-based ion-conducting materials in recent years are introduced and classified,mainly inspecting their structural and functional relationship.After that,it is further focused on the application of these ionconducting electrolytes in the fields of proton exchange membranes,supercapacitors,and ion batteries.In addition,some properties of POMs(such as inherent dimension,capable of forming stable hydrogen bonds,and reversible bonding to water molecules)enable these functional POM-based electrolytes to be employed in innovative applications such as ion selection,humidity sensing,and smart materials.Finally,some fundamental recommendations are given on the current opportunities and challenges of POM-based ion-conducting electrolytes.

Decomposition of a β-O-4 lignin model compound over solid Cs-substituted polyoxometalates in anhydrous ethanol: acidity or redox property dependence?

Production o f aromatics from lignin has attracted much attention. Because of the coexistence of C-O and C-C bonds and their complex combinations in the lignin macromolecular network, a plausible roadmap for developing a lignin catalytic decomposition process could be developed by exploring the transformation mechanisms of various model compounds. Herein, decomposition of a lignin model compound, 2-phenoxyacetophenone （2-PAP）, was investigated over several ce-sium-exchanged polyoxometalate （Cs-POM） catalysts. Decomposition of 2-PAP can follow two dif-ferent mechanisms： an active hydrogen transfer mechanism or an oxonium cation mechanism. The mechanism for most reactions depends on the competition between the acidity and redox proper-ties of the catalysts. The catalysts of POMs perform the following functions： promoting active hy-drogen liberated from ethanol and causing formation of and then temporarily stabilizing oxonium cations from 2-PAP. The use of Cs-PMo, which with strong redox ability, enhances hydrogen libera-tion and promotes liberated hydrogen transfer to the reaction intermediates. As a consequence, complete conversion of 2-PAP （〉99%） with excellent selectivities to the desired products （98.6% for phenol and 91.1% for acetophenone） can be achieved.

Research advances of light-driven hydrogen evolution using polyoxometalate-based catalysts

With the increasing concerns to energy shortage and environmental problems in modern society,the development of cheap,clean,and sustainable energy alternatives has been attracting tremendous attention globally.Among various strategies of renewable energy exploration,solar-driven water splitting into its compositional elements H2 and O2 is an ideal approach to convert and store renewable solar energy into chemical bonds.In recent few decades,as an emerging new type of catalysts,polyoxometalates(POMs)have been widely utilized for water splitting due to their versatile synthetic methodology and highly tunable physicochemical and photochemical properties.This critical review addresses the research advances of light-driven hydrogen evolution using polyoxometalate-based catalysts,including plenary POMs,transition-metal-substituted POMs,POM@MOF composites,and POM-semiconductor hybrids,under UV,near UV and visible light irradiation.In addition,the catalytic mechanism for each reaction system has been thoroughly discussed and summarized.Finally,a comprehensive outlook of this research area is also prospected.

Green aerobic oxidative desulfurization of diesel by constructing an Fe-Anderson type polyoxometalate and benzene sulfonic acid-based deep eutectic solvent biomimetic cycle

A unique redox-coupled biomimetic system was developed, in which Fe-Anderson type polyoxometalates(POMs) were employed as electron transfer mediators(ETMs) and benzenesulfonic acid(BSA)-based deep eutectic solvents(DESs) were used as electron-donors for aerobic oxidative desulfurization(AODS) of diesel fuel. Different compositions of DESs were used and the polyethylene glycol 2000(PEG2000)/2.5 BSA system showed the highest desulfurization activity, with the removal of dibenzothiophene(DBT) at 60 ℃ reaching 95% in 60 min. The excellent desulfurization activity of the system is due to the in situ formation of peroxysulfonate via a biomimetic process. By constructing a coupled redox system, Fe-Anderson type POMs as ETMs reduce the activation energy of oxygen-activated sulfonate. The physical characteristics of four different DESs were tested. The results show that the conductivity of DESs is correlated with the composition of BSA-based DESs. However, there is no similar trend in viscosity testing at the same temperature, and the maximum viscosity value is obtained for the PEG2000/2.5 BSA system at 60 ℃, which may be associated with the stronger hydrogen bonds. It is worth noting that the PEG2000/2.5 BSA system also possesses the best desulfurization activity, which suggests that the activity of the desulfurization system is related to the strength of the hydrogen bond in DESs. Finally, the biomimetic desulfurization system exhibits excellent performance and good stability under mild reaction conditions(60 ℃, atmospheric pressure, oxygen as the oxidant).

Mesoporous polyoxometalate-based ionic hybrid as a highly effective heterogeneous catalyst for direct hydroxylation of benzene to phenol

Self‐assembled mesoporous polyoxometalate‐based ionic hybrid catalyst,[PxyDim]2.5PMoV2,was prepared by combining p‐xylene‐tethered diimidazole ionic liquid[PxyDim]Cl2with Keggin‐structured V‐substituted polyoxometalate H5PMo10V2O40.The obtained hybrid was shown to be a mesostructured and hydrophobic material with good thermal stability.In the H2O2‐based hydroxylation of benzene to phenol,the hybrid showed extraordinary catalytic activity and rate,and quite stable reusability.The unique hydrophobic properties and mesoporous structure of the hybrid were responsible for its excellent catalytic performance.

Polyoxometalates-engineered hydrogen generation rate and durability of Pt/CNT catalysts from ammonia borane

Heterogeneously catalyzed hydrolytic dehydrogenation of ammonia borane is a remarkable structure sensitive reaction. In this work, a strategy by using polyoxometalates(POMs) as the ligands is proposed to engineer the surface and electronic properties of Pt/CNT catalysts toward the enhanced hydrogen generation rate and durability. Three kinds of POMs, i.e., silicotungstic acid(STA), phosphotungstic acid(PTA)and molybdophosphoric acid(PMA), are comparatively studied, among which the STA shows positive effects on the catalytic activity and durability. A catalyst structure-performance relationship is established by a combination of kinetic and isotopic analyses with multiple characterization techniques, such as HAADF-STEM, EDS, Raman spectroscopy and XPS. It is shown that the STA compared to the other two POMs can increase the Pt binding energy and thus promote the reaction. The insights demonstrated here could open a new avenue for boosting the reaction by employing the POMs as the ligands to engineer the catalyst electronic properties.

Fe-substituted cobalt-phosphate polyoxometalates as enhanced oxygen evolution catalysts in acidic media

All-inorganic and earth-abundant bi-/trimetallic hydr(oxy)oxides are widely used as oxygen evolution electrocatalysts owing to their remarkable performance.However,their atomically precise structures remain undefined,complicating their optimization and limiting the understanding of their enhanced performance.Here,the underlying structure-property correlation is explored by using a well-defined cobalt-phosphate polyoxometalate cluster [{(Co4)(OH)3(PO4)}4(SiW9 O34)4]^32-(1),which may serve as a molecular model of multimetal hydr(oxy)oxides.The catalytic activity is enhanced upon replacing Co by Fe in 1,resulting in a reduced overpotential(385 mV) for oxygen evolution(by 66 mV) compared to that of the parent 1 at 10 mA cm^-2 in an acidic medium;this overpotential is comparable to that for the IrO2 catalyst These abundant-metal-based polyoxometalates exhibit high stability,with no evidence of degradation even after 24 h of operation.

Polyoxometalate-based silica-supported ionic liquids for heterogeneous oxidative desulfurization in fuels

With the aim of deep desulfurization, silica-supported polyoxometalate-based ionic liquids were successfully prepared by a one-pot hydrothermal process and employed in heterogeneous oxidative desulfurization of various sulfur compounds. The compositions and structures of the hybrid samples were characterized by various methods such as FT-IR, XPS, Raman,UV–Vis, wide-angle XRD and N2adsorption–desorption. The experimental results indicated that the hybrid materials presented a high dispersion of tungsten species and excellent catalytic activity for the removal of 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene without any organic solvent as extractant, and the sulfur removal could reach 100.0% under mild conditions.The catalytic performance on various substrates was also investigated in detail. After cycling seven cycles, the sulfur removal of the heterogeneous system still reached 93.0%. The GC-MS analysis results demonstrated that the sulfur compound was first adsorbed by the catalyst and subsequently oxidized to its corresponding sulfone.

Assembly and Electrochemical Study of Transition Metal Substituted Polyoxometalates SiW_(11)NiO_(39)^(6-) and SiW_(11)MnO_(39)^(6-) on 4-Aminothio-phenol Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode

Via layer-by-layer assembly, the polyoxometalates of Keggin type, SiW_ 11O_ 39Ni(H_2O) 6-(SiNiW_ 11) and {SiW_ 11O_ 39Mn(H_2O) 6-}(SiMnW_ 11) were first immobilized on a 4-aminothiophenol(4-ATP) modified glassy carbon electrode surface. The electrochemical behavior of these polyoxometalates was investigated. They exhibited some special properties in the films, which are different from those in a homogeneous aqueous solution. Their reaction mechanism in a multilayer film is proposed. The electrocatalytic behavior of these multilayer film electrodes for the reduction of BrO-_3 and NO-_2 were comparatively studied.

Progress of electrochemical CO_(2)reduction reactions over polyoxometalate-based materials

Electrochemical CO_(2)reduction to value-added fuels and chemicals is recognized as a promising strategy to alleviate energy shortages and global warming owing to its high efficiency and economic feasibility.Recently,understanding the activity origin,selectivity regulation,and reaction mechanisms of CO_(2)reduction reactions(CO_(2)RRs)has become the focus of efficient electrocatalyst design.Polyoxometalates(POMs),a unique class of nanosized metal-oxo clusters,are promising candidates for the development of efficient CO_(2)RR electrocatalysts and,owing to their well-defined structure,remarkable electron/proton storage and transfer ability,and capacities for adsorption and activation of CO_(2),are ideal models for investigating the activity origin and reaction mechanisms of CO_(2)RR electrocatalysts.In this review,we focus on the activity origin and mechanism of CO_(2)RRs and survey recent advances that were achieved by employing POMs in electrocatalytic CO_(2)RRs.We highlight the significant roles of POMs in the electrocatalytic CO_(2)RR process and the main factors influencing selectivity regulation and catalytic CO_(2)RR performance,including the electrolyte,electron-transfer process,and surface characteristics.Finally,we offer a perspective of the advantages and future challenges of POM-based materials in electrocatalytic CO_(2)reduction that could inform new advancements in this promising research field.

Photocatalytic properties of thin films of ruthenium metallopolymers/gold nanoparticle: Polyoxometalate composites using visible excitation

Thin layers of an electrostatically associated adduct RuPVP-AuNP:POM formed between the polyoxomolybdate, [S2 Mo18 O62 ]4, the polycationic metallopolymer [Ru(bpy)2(PVP)10 ](ClO4)2 and DMAP-protected gold nanoparticle have been deposited onto electrodes using two separate methods, alternate immersion layer-by-layer assembly and pre-assembled drop-casting; PVP is poly(4-vinylpyridine), BPY is 2,2'-bipyridyl, and DMAP is 4-dimethylaminopyridine. Significantly, the efficiency of the photocatalysis depends markedly on the structure of the [RuPVP-AuNP:POM] even when photonic properties are very similar. Strikingly, despite their similar photonic properties, an additional optical transition is observed in UV-vis and the Raman spectra of pre-assembled drop cast [RuPVP-AuNP:POM], which was not seen in dip coated [RuPVP-AuNP:POM]. Importantly, this electronic communication enhances the photocatalytic oxidation of benzaldehyde by a factor of more than four. While there is clear evidence for photosensitisation in the drop cast not present for the dip coated systems, the magnitude of the photocurrent, i.e.,(82.2 6.6) nA·cm 2for pre-assembled drop cast [RuPVP-AuNP:POM] at a ruthenium to Au nanoparticle mole ratio of 48:1, is twice as large as that those found in [Ru-PVP:POM] film.

Polyoxometalates‐doped Bi_(2)O_(3–x)/Bi photocatalyst for highly efficient visible‐light photodegradation of tetrabromobisphenol A and removal of NO

Bismuth‐based photocatalysts are a class of excellent visible‐light photocatalysts;however,their redox activity is relatively poor and the efficiency of photogenerated carrier separation is low,limiting their development and application in the field of photocatalysis.To address these issues,a series of polyoxometalate PW_(12)O_(40)^(3–)‐doped Bi_(2)O_(3–x)/Bi Schottky photocatalysts PW_(12)@Bi_(2)O_(3–x)/Bi‐n(PBOB‐n,where n is the amount of NaBH4,i.e.,6,12,18,24,and 48 mg)were prepared by a simple electrospinning/calcination/in‐situ NaBH4 reduction method.In this composite photocatalyst,the doping of PW_(12) could effectively adjust the electronic structure of Bi_(2)O_(3–x) and improve its redox properties.As a shallow electron trap,PW_(12) promoted the separation of the photogenerated carriers.Furthermore,desirable Schottky junction between the metal Bi nanoparticles and PW_(12)@Bi_(2)O_(3–x) further accelerated the separation of the photogenerated carriers.The synergistic effect of the aforementioned factors endowed PBOB‐n with excellent photocatalytic activity.Among the samples,PBOB‐18 exhibited superior photocatalytic activity.Under visible‐light irradiation,93.7%(20 mg catalyst)of 20 ppm tetrabromobisphenol A(TBBPA,20 mL)was degraded in 60 min.Its activity was 4.4 times higher than that of Bi_(2)O_(3).PBOB‐18 also exhibited an ultrahigh photocatalytic performance for the removal of NO.Its removal rate(600 ppb)reached 83.3%in 30 min,making it one of the most active Bi‐based photocatalysts.Furthermore,the photocatalytic mechanisms of PBOB‐18 for TBBPA and NO have been proposed.This work provides a new direction and reference for the design of low‐cost,efficient,stable,and versatile photocatalysts.

Wheel-shaped icosanuclear Cu-containing polyoxometalate catalyst: Mechanistic and stability studies on light-driven hydrogen generation

In this paper,we report the synthesis and characterization of a wheel-shaped icosanuclear Cu-containing polyoxometalate(POM),K_(12)Li_(13)[Cu_(2)0Cl(OH)_(24)(H_(2)O)_(12)(P_(8)W_(48)O_(184))]·22H_(2)O(K_(12)Li_(13)-Cu_(2)0P_(8)W_(48)).The resulting cation-exchanged tetrabutylammonium salt of the polyoxoanion Cu_(2)0P_(8)W_(48)(TBA-Cu_(2)0P_(8)W_(48))exhibits high efficiency for visible-light-driven H_(2) production in the presence of an[Ir(ppy)2(dtbbpy)][PF_(6)]photosensitizer and a triethanolamine electron donor.Under optimal conditions,the turnover number for H_(2) production reaches~2892 after 5 h of photocatalysis and thereafter continuously increases to~13400 in a long-term 120 h reaction,representing the best performance among all reported transition-metal-substituted POM catalysts.Mechanistic studies confirm the existence of reductive and oxidative quenching processes,of which the reductive quenching pathway is dominant.Various stability tests demonstrate that the TBA-Cu_(2)0P_(8)W_(48) catalyst slowly dissociates Cu ions under turnover conditions;however,both the starting TBA-Cu_(2)0P_(8)W_(48) and its molecular decomposition products are dominant active species for efficient and long-term H_(2) production.

Synthesis and Structure of One Novel Polyoxometalate Compound Connected via Cerium(III) Cation with Three-dimensional Framework H_2{[K(H_2O)_2]_2[Ce(H_2O)_5]_2(H_2Mo_(1.16)W_(10.84)O_(42))}·8H_2O

One novel polyoxometalate compound connected via trivalent cerium cation as bridge H2{ [K（H2O）212[Ce（H2O）5]2（H2Mo1.16W10.84O42）}.8H2O 1 was designed and synthesized in aqueous solution. X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that the structure of 1 is a three-dimensional framework assembled from the arrangement of H2Mo1.16W10.84O42 （named paradodecmetalate-B） and Ce（H2O）5^3＋ containing two planes, which are constructed through the unification of H2Mo1.16W10.84O42^10- and Ce（H2O）5^3＋ along the [100] and [001] directions. Crystal data： H96Ce4KaMo2.32O128W21.68, Mr = 7074.89, monoclinic, P21/n, a = 12.5037（17）, b = 17.002（2）, c = 12.7473（17）A, β = 105.966（2）°, V = 2605.4（6）A^3, Z = 1, Dc = 4.509 g/cm^3, F（000） = 3132,μ = 26.098 mm^-1, R = 0.0377 and wR = 0.0789 （I 〉 2σ（I））.

Study on photodegradation of Azo dye by polyoxometalates/polyvinyl alcohol

A series of photocatalysts, K11[Ln(PW11O39)2]/PVA (Ln=La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm) were prepared by K11[Ln(PW11O39)2] (Ln=La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm) containing five kinds of lanthanides and polyvinyl alcohol as the support. The catalysts obtained were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectra, UV-vis spectra, powder X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy, indicating that the structure of K11[Ln(PW11O39)2] and polyvinyl alcohol remained intact, respectively. The photocatalysts exhibited efficient catalytic activity to degrade methyl orange, Congo Red, Ponceau 2R. The maximal degradation conversions of the three kinds of dyes were 99.58%, 47.61%, 72.42%, respectively.

Pilaring of Zn_2Al Layered Double Hydroxide by Dawson Polyoxometalate Anions

Zn2Al layered double hydroxide pillared with Dawson polyoxometalates,P2W17ZO8-61(Z=Mn2+,Co2+,Ni2+,Cu2+,Zn2+)was prepared.A basal space ofca.16 nm indicates the intercalated Dawson ions to be oriented with their C2 axis perpendicular to the double hydroxide layers(with the exception of P2W17ZnLDH).The IR and^(13)P MASNMR spectral reveal that the Dawson ions retain their integrity in the interlayer space of LDH.A preliminary study shows that these compounds are highly active catalysts for the oxidation of cyclohexene with molecular oxygen.