Efficient reduction of CO2 and inhibition of hydrogen precipitation by polyoxometalate photocatalyst modified with the metal Mn

Photocatalytic reduction of CO2 to chemical fuels is attractive for solving both the greenhouse effect and the energy crisis, but the key challenge is to design and synthesize photocatalysts with remarkable performance under visible light irradiation. Efficient catalytic carbon dioxide reduction (CO2RR) with light is considered a promising sustainable and clean approach to solve environmental problems. Herein, we found a new photocatalyst ([Mn(en)2]6[V12B18O54(OH)6]) (abbreviated as Mn6V12) based on the modifiability of polyoxometalates, in which Mn acts as a modifying unit to efficiently reduce CO2 to CO and effectively inhibit the hydrogen precipitation reaction. This Mn modified polyoxometalate catalyst has a maximum CO generation rate of 4625.0 μmol g-1 h-1 and a maximum H2 generation rate of 499.6 μmol g-1 h-1, with a selectivity of 90.3% for CO generation and 9.7% for H2 generation. This polyoxometalate photocatalyst can effectively reduce CO and inhibit the hydrogen precipitation reaction. It provides a new idea for the efficient photocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction (CO2RR) with polyoxometalate catalysts.

Two-dimensional correlation infrared spectroscopy study on vanadoborate anionic skeleton regulated by countercations

Two novel vanadoborate compounds, [Cu(en)2]3[Li(H2O)]4[Li(H2O)3]2[V12B18O50(OH)10(H2O)]2·33.5H2O (1) and (H2en)4[Li(H2O)]4[V12B18O55(OH)5(H2O)]·14H2O (2), were synthesized via hydrothermal synthesis under identical conditions except for temperature. Structural analysis revealed that although both contain [V12B18O60]n- cluster anion, the different countercations potentially lead to variations in the [V12B18O60]n- cluster anion skeletons. In compound 1, the V4+/V5+ ratio was 10:2; while in compound 2 the ratio was 11:1. It is speculated that different countercations may influence the valence states of cluster anions. In this study, quantum chemical calculations revealed that the aromaticity and activity of the two compounds were different, and two-dimensional correlation infrared spectroscopy (2D-COS-IR) under magnetic perturbation confirmed that distinct response peaks of functional group vibrations to the magnetic field due to the different V4+/V5+ ratios and aromaticity of the two compounds. An electrochemical analysis revealed that compound 2 exhibits higher electrocatalytic activity. The results of quantum chemical calculations are aligned not only with the changes in the 2D-COS-IR spectra but also with the conclusions obtained from experiments on electrochemical properties. Overall, this work proposes a novel strategy for interpreting the alteration of vanadoborate anionic skeleton due to the introduction of different countercations by combining 2D-COS-IR with quantum chemical calculations.

Improved Catalytic Performance toward Selective Oxidation of Benzyl Alcohols Originated from New Open-Framework Copper Molybdovanadate with a Unique V/Mo Ratio

A new organic-inorganic hybrid open-framework molybdovanadate with mixed-valences of vanadium (V4+ /V5+ =4/3) and molybdenum (Mo5+ /Mo6+ =8/2) cations has been synthesized. The complex possesses the unique V/Mo ratio (7/10), fascinating 8-C topological network and 1D 4-MR channels (7.793 Å×6.699 Å). Importantly, its catalytic activities for the selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde (oxidant: H2 O2 , 30 wt %) have been well evaluated. The results indicated that it exhibited improved catalytic activities (conv.: 96.8 %) compared with the catalyst (Cpyr)5 PV2 Mo5 W5 O40 [conv.: 88.51 %, Cpyr=(C16 H32 C5 H4 N)+ )], high recyclability and structural stability. Moreover, the conversions and selectivities (conv.: 82.4-92.5 %; sele.: 91.5-95.7 %) of the substrates containing electron donating groups (-OH, -CH3 , -OCH3 and -Cl) were significantly higher than those of the substrate containing electron withdrawing group (-NO2 ) (conv. 67.4 %; sele.: 80.8 %). This is due to the fact that the -NO2 with a large Hammett substituent constant is not conducive to the generation of transition state products. The studies revealed the complex could act as a highly efficient heterogeneous catalyst in selective oxidation of benzyl alcohols.

A highly efficient heterogeneous catalyst for selective oxidation of sulfides derived from an open-framework copper borovanadate containing a unique crown-shaped anion

A novel 3D open-framework copper borovanadate with a unique crown-shaped anion [(V^IVO)₈(V^VO)₄B₃₂O₆₄(OH)₈]^12- and the largest ratio of Cu²⁺/borovanadate anions (6/1) has been successfully synthesized and systematically studied. The compound not only possesses high stability in a wide pH range of 3.2-10.8 (DMF solution), but also exhibits excellent catalytic activities for selective oxidation of sulfides.

Composition-driven archetype dynamics in polyoxovanadates

Molecular metal oxides often adopt common structural frameworks (i.e. archetypes), many of them boasting impressive structural robustness and stability. However, the ability to adapt and to undergo transformations between different structural archetypes is a desirable material design feature offering applicability in different environments. Using systems thinking approach that integrates synthetic, analytical and computational techniques, we explore the transformations governing the chemistry of polyoxovanadates (POVs) constructed of arsenate and vanadate building units. The water-soluble salt of the low nuclearity polyanion [V6As8O26]4- can be effectively used for the synthesis of the larger spherical (i.e. kegginoidal) mixed-valent [V12As8O40]4- precipitate, while the novel [V10As12O40]8- POVs having tubular cyclic structures are another, well soluble product. Surprisingly, in contrast to the common observation that high-nuclearity polyoxometalate (POM) clusters are fragmented to form smaller moieties in solution, the low nuclearity [V6As8O26]4- anion is in situ transformed into the higher nuclearity cluster anions. The obtained products support a conceptually new model that is outlined in this article and that describes a continuous evolution between spherical and cyclic POV assemblies. This new model represents a milestone on the way to rational and designable POV self-assemblies.

Ba10LuB18O32F13: the first example of borate in the Lu–B–O–F system with the unprecedented FBB [B9O22]

The first example of borate in the Lu–B–O–F system was demonstrated, possessing a short cut-off edge near 190 nm and the novel FBB [B9O22].

Construction of a unique 2-D layered vanadoborate with water-assisted proton conductivity

In the present work, a new two-dimensional layered vanadoborate Na4[V12B18O54(OH)6(H2O)]•(H2en)4•2(OH)•3H2O (1, en = ethylenediamine), based on a [V12B18O54(OH)6(H2O)]10- cluster unit, was hydrothermally obtained and characterized. In the structure, the clusters...

Water assisted high proton conductance in a pure-inorganic framework vanadoborate

A pure-inorganic framework vanadoborate is successfully synthesized under hydrothermal conditions and exhibits good proton conductivity.

Efficient proton conductivity of a novel 3D open-framework vanadoborate with [V6B20] architectures

A new three-dimensional (3-D) inorganic metal-oxygen network vanadoborate Na3H10[Ni(H2O)2(VO)6(B10O22)2]·NH4·19H2O (1) constructed from lantern-type {(VO)6(B10O22)2} clusters, NaO6 polyhedra and NiO6 octahedra, was successfully synthesized by a hydrothermal method. In the structure, the {V6B20} clusters are linked together through NiO6 octahedral bridges, resulting in 1-D chains along the c-axis. The 1-D chains are further connected by NaO6 polyhedra to give rise to a 3-D open-framework structure. Furthermore, lots of NH4+ and H2O molecules are accommodated in the void of the structure, and may interact with the [V6B20] system via N-HO, O-HO hydrogen bonds, constructing a complex hydrogen-bonding network system. Strikingly, compound 1 exhibited a high proton conductivity of 3.22 × 10-3 S cm-1 at 50 °C under 100% RH with an activation energy of 1.66 eV.

Integration of metallacycles and polyoxometalate macrocycles

A series of polyoxometalate–metallacycle composite macrocycles with interesting bi/tri-layer cyclic structures have been synthesized, which show a remarkable integration of metallacycles and polyoxometalate macrocycles at molecular level.

Vanadoborates: cluster-based architectures, preparation and properties

The different connections of [VO_x] (x = 4, 5, 6) and [AO_x] (A = B, x = 3, 4; A = P, x = 4) polyhedral units ultimately result in a fascinating variety of vanadoborate anionic clusters.

Green synthesis of Ag/TiO2 composite coated porous vanadophosphates with enhanced visible-light photo-degradation and catalytic reduction performance for removing organic dyes

As environmental pollution and energy shortages have become global concerns, the construction of highly efficient catalysts using facile and green methods remains a long-term goal. In the present study, we proposed a facile catalyst preparation method in which Ag/TiO₂ composites were coated on the surface of the porous pure inorganic crystalline vanadium phosphates (VPO) by a one-step strategy. More importantly, the in situ reduction of Ag nanoparticles was achieved at room temperature without severe conditions or hydrogen atmosphere in which the porous VPO was employed as the reductant. The prepared Ag/VPO@TiO₂ composites act as a class of efficient bifunctional catalysts for visible light photodegradation of MB molecules and catalytic reduction of p-nitrophenol (4-NP). Among these samples, the 6.82%Ag/VPO@TiO₂ composite exhibited a superior photocatalytic activity in the degradation of MB and an ultrafast reduction rate for 4-NP of about 0.1 mM/40 s. The photocatalytic mechanistic studies revealed that the encapsulated VPO with a narrow band gap not only efficiently enhances the photosensitivity of the TiO₂ but also largely facilitates the photogenerated charge separation. The subsequent deposition of Ag NPs is able to further promote electron transfer ability, which leads to the higher photocatalytic activity. Moreover, the contact of Ag NPs with the surface of semiconductor TiO₂ can result in an electron-enhanced area in their interface that could effectively facilitate the uptake of electrons by the 4-NP molecules and then improve the reduction activity.

Zeolitic Vanadomolybdates as High-Performance Cathode-Active Materials for Sodium-Ion Batteries

Developing new cathode-active materials for rechargeable batteries is important to fulfill the growing demands of energy transformation, storage, and utilization. Zeolitic transition-metal oxides based on vanadomolybdate, constructed by pentagon metal-oxygen clusters as building blocks and metal ions as linkers in a trigonal symmetry, are good candidates for cathodes of Na rechargeable batteries. The material is activated via amorphization of the crystal structure in the ab plane during discharging process, keeping the molecular structure of the building blocks stable, which causes high specific capacity and good cycle performance.

Synthesis, characterization and structure of (NH4)4[Zn5VVO56H2(H2O)4] with a novel V5O14 layer

A novel zinc vanadate (NH4)4[Zn5VIV4VV16O56H2(H2O)4] was synthesized by the hydrothermal method and a zinc-vanadium-water system without any organic media was studied for the first time. The pH and the reaction time play important roles in the formation of the final products and the structure-change of the different products was also discussed. The new phase (NH4)4[Zn5VIV4VV16O56H2(H2O)4] is a three-dimensional structure with a novel V5O14 layer connected by ZnO4 and ZnO6 polyhedra. The V5O14 layer in (NH4)4[Zn5VIV4VV16O56H2(H2O)4] was constructed with four distorted VO5 square pyramids and one regular VO4 triangular pyramid which is different from the reported ones due to the pure inorganic mild synthesis conditions.

A New 3-D Open-Framework Zinc Borovanadate with Catalytic Potentials in α-Phenethyl Alcohol Oxidation

A novel 3-D open-framework zinc borovanadate [Zn₆(en)₃][(VIVO)₆(VVO)₆O₆(B18O36(OH)₆)·(H₂O)]₂·14H₂O (1, en = ethylenediamine) was hydrothermally obtained and structurally characterized. The framework was built from [V12B18O54(OH)₆(H₂O)]10- polyanion clusters bridged by Zn(en) complex fragments. The compound not only possessed a three-dimensional open-framework structure with unique plane-shaped channels, but also exhibited excellent catalytic activities for the oxidation of α-phenethyl alcohol.

Inorganic–organic hybrid high-dimensional polyoxotantalates and their structural transformations triggered by water

In this work, novel dimeric polyoxotantalate (POTa) clusters {Cu(en)(Ta₆O₁₉)}₂/{Cu(enMe)(Ta₆O₁₉)}₂ were introduced as SBUs to construct a new family of extended POTa materials, including the first two 3D POTa frameworks and two 2D POTa layers.

A pair of new chiral polyoxovanadates with decent NLO properties

Through utilizing a two-step method to successfully prepare a pair of enantiomers trataric-polyoxovanadate [(l/d-C₄O₆H₂)₂V₄O₈]·2C₆N₂H₁₈ (1-L or 1-D), these compounds show decent third-order NLO property and electrochemical behavior.

Analogies between Vanadoborates and Planar Aromatic Hydrocarbons: A High-Spin Analogue of Aromaticity

The vanadium-vanadium interactions in the polygonal aggregates of d¹ vanadium(IV) atoms, with a total of 4k + 2 vanadium electrons (k an integer) imbedded in an electronically inactive borate matrix in certain vanadoborate structures are analogous to the ring carbon-carbon interactions in diamagnetic planar cyclic hydrocarbons. They thus represent a high-spin analogue of aromaticity. Thus, the vanadoborate anion [V₆B₂₀O₅₀H₈]⁸⁻ with six V(IV) electrons (i.e., 4k + 2 for k = 1) contains a macrohexagon of d¹ V(IV) atoms with four unpaired electrons. This high-spin system is related to the low-spin aromaticity in the diamagnetic benzene having six π electrons. Similarly, the vanadoborate anion [V₁₀B₂₈O₇₄H₈]¹⁶⁻ with ten V(IV) electrons (i.e., 4k + 2 for k = 2) contains a macrodecagon of d¹ V(IV) atoms with eight unpaired electrons. Again, this high-spin system is related to the aromaticity in the diamagnetic 1,6-methanol[10]annulene, having ten π electrons.

High-Performance Cathode Based on Microporous Mo-V-Bi Oxide for Li Battery and Investigation by Operando X-ray Absorption Fine Structure

The development of cathode-active material of Li battery is important for the current emerging energy transferring and saving problems. A stable crystalline microporous complex metal oxide based on Mo, V, and Bi is an active and suitable material for Li battery. High capacity (380 Ah/kg) and stable cycle performance are achieved. X-ray absorption near-edge structure analyses demonstrate that the original Mo⁶⁺ and V⁴⁺ ions are reduced to Mo⁴⁺ and V³⁺ in the discharging process, respectively, which results in a 70-electron reduction per formula. The reduced metal ions can be reoxidized reversibly in the next charging process. Furthermore, extended X-ray absorption fine structure analyses reveal that the Mo-O bonds in the material are lengthened in the discharging process probably due to interaction with Li⁺ without change of the basic structure.

A spherical deca-vanadophosphate covalent assembled all-inorganic open framework

Through covalent connection of phosphate groups, an all-inorganic open framework, [NH₄]₉[P₄V₁₀O₃₄]_1.5·3H₂O (1), has been prepared by a hydrothermal reduction-condensation method. It is built from a vanadophosphate (VPO) unit of [P₄V₁₀O₃₄]^6-, which represents a rare example of a spherical {V₁₀-type} structure among the VPO family. Further studies also demonstrate that compound 1 is an n-type semiconductor.

Two New Copper Borates with Mesoscale Cubic Supramolecular Cages Assembled from {Cu4 @B20 } Clusters

Two new copper borates, namely H₆ [(μ₄ -O)Cu₄ @B₂₀ O₃₂ (OH)₈ ]⋅25 H₂ O (1) and H₆ [(μ₄ -O)Cu₄ @B₂₀ O₃₂ (OH)₈ ]⋅34 H₂ O⋅8 H₃ BO₃ (2), with 3D supramolecular framework have been made under solvothermal conditions, which built by novel cubic supramolecular cages with mesoscale cavities via the H-bondings. Interestingly, the cage is assembled by [(μ₄ -O)Cu₄ @B₂₀ O₃₂ (OH)₈ ] ({Cu₄ @B₂₀ }) cluster units with different point-group symmetry. Owing to extra H₃ BO₃ molecules participated in building the supramolecular framework, 2 has a larger cubic cage size and higher non-framework volume, leading to the cage size extended to mesoporous size set as a version of ''1 plus".

M3V2B10O23 (M = Ca, Sr): two new vanadoborates with [V2B10O23]∞ double layers

Ca₃V₂B₁₀O₂₃ and Sr₃V₂B₁₀O₂₃ are isostructural and their main frameworks are novel “infinite” 2D [V₂B₁₀O₂₃]_∞ double layers which composed of an [B₅O₉]_∞ infinite layer and VO₄ tetrahedra.

Hydrothermal assembly of various dimensional pure-inorganic copper–molybdenum frameworks

CMF-1 to CMF-3 were firstly obtained by using [Mo₇O₂₄]⁶⁻ and Cu tetrahedra, and all showed excellent performance for the degradation of methylene blue.

A rare polyniobotungstate-based framework and its structural transformation in a single-crystal-to-single-crystal process induced by iodide ions

A rare polyniobotungstate-based framework constructed from Lindqvist [Nb₃W₃O₁₉]⁵⁻ polyanions and mixed-valent copper ions has been made, which can undergo a solid–liquid reaction with KI solution to form a copper halide via a single-crystal-to-single-crystal process.

Employing a new 12-connected topological open-framework copper borovanadate as an effective heterogeneous catalyst for oxidation of benzyl-alkanes

A new 12-connected topological open-framework copper borovanadate with a unique B/V ratio (20/12) and a -B3O7(OH)-Na(μ-OH)[B(OH)2]-B3O7(OH)- connection mode has been hydrothermally obtained and characterized. It not only features the first 3-D copper(II) borovanadate which possesses the largest ratio of TM(2+) and borovanadate anion, but also displays highly catalytic activities for the oxidation of benzyl-alkanes.

A new 3-D open-framework cadmium borovanadate with plane-shaped channels and high catalytic activity for the oxidation of cyclohexanol

A new 3-D open-framework cadmium borovanadate with 6-connected topology was hydrothermally obtained and structurally characterized. It not only features new cadmium(II) borovanadate which possesses an open-framework structure with unique plane-shaped channels, but also exhibits interesting absorption properties and high catalytic activities for the oxidation of cyclohexanol.

Layered V-B-O polyoxometalate nets linked by diethylenetriamine complexes with dangling amine groups

Two layered V-B-O contained polyoxometalate (POM) net structures, denoted as SUT-12 and SUT-13, are reported here. SUT-12 was synthesized by the boric acid flux method, and it represents the first 2D structure constructed from the V6B20 vanadoborate cluster. SUT-13 was synthesized by the hydrothermal method and constructed from V12B6P12 vanadium borophosphate clusters. In both structures, the vanadoborate or vanadium borophosphate clusters were linked through in situ formed Zn(DETA)2 or Cu(DETA)2 complexes. Surprisingly, for all DETA molecules in the two metal complexes, there is one dangling amine group when it is coordinated to the metal. The phenomenon of the dangling amine group feature is abnormal and the Cu(DETA)2 complexes in SUT-13 were taken as an example and studied by the density functional theory (DFT) calculations in order to understand this unusual feature.