pH-Driven Rotational Configuration of Keggin-Fe13 Clusters and Their Transformations

Keggin-Fe13 clusters are considered foundational building blocks or prenucleation precursors of ferrihydrite. Understanding the factors that influence the rotational configuration of these clusters, and their transformations in water, is vital for comprehending the formation mechanism of ferrihydrite. Here, we report syntheses and crystal structures of four lanthanide-iron-oxo clusters, namely, [Dy6Fe13(Gly)12(μ2-OH)6(μ3-OH)18(μ4-O)4(H2O)17]·13ClO4·19H2O (1), [Dy6Fe13(Gly)12(μ3-OH)24(μ4-O)4(H2O)18]·13ClO4·14H2O (2), [Pr8Fe34(Gly)24(μ3-OH)28(μ3-O)30(μ4-O)4(H2O)30]·6ClO4·20H2O (3), and [Pr6Fe13(Gly)12(μ3-OH)24(μ4-O)4(H2O)18]·13ClO4·22H2O (4, Gly = glycine). Single-crystal analyses reveal that 1 has a β-Keggin-Fe13 cluster, marking the first documented instance of such a cluster to date. Conversely, both 2 and 4 contain an α-Keggin-Fe13 cluster, while 3 is characterized by four hexavacant ε-Keggin-Fe13 clusters. Magnetic property investigations of 1 and 2 show that 2 exhibits ferromagnetic interactions, while 1 exhibits antiferromagnetic interactions. An exploration of the synthetic conditions for 1 and 2 indicates that a higher pH promotes the formation of α-Keggin-Fe13 clusters, while a lower pH favors β-Keggin-Fe13 clusters. A detailed analysis of the transition from 3 to 4 emphasizes that lacunary Keggin-Fe13 clusters can morph into Keggin-Fe13 clusters with a decrease in pH, accompanied by a significant change in their rotational configuration.

Decaniobate: The Fruit Fly of Niobium Polyoxometalate Chemistry

ConspectusPolyoxometalates (POMs, metals = V4/5+, Nb5+, Ta5+, Mo5/6+, and W5/6+) can be described as molecular metal oxides. The V, Mo, and W-POMs (classic POMs) exhibit rich structural diversity with interesting redox properties, acid catalysis, inorganic ligands, and colorimetric properties and behavior. Nb and Ta POMs, while structurally similar, are generally stable only in base and redox behavior is rare, and they are synthetically far less accessible. The V, Mo, and W-POMs have been studied for well over a century, Nb-POM chemistry has emerged in the last 20 years, and Ta-POM chemistry is yet to see consistent and significant advances. Early and current success in Nb-POM chemistry is owed mainly to hydrothermal synthesis, which is wholly unsatisfying, given the black box nature of this technique.For the last 5 years and as summarized in this Account, we have exploited decaniobate, [Nb10O28]6- (Nb10), as a foundation to perform room-temperature, nearly pH-neutral manipulations of Nb-POM solutions. Nb10, with a rare neutral self-buffering pH, responds to any interactions with electrolytes (specifically oxoanions and metal cations) by undergoing transformations, leading to new topologies. The ease of Nb10 transformation yielding new generations of Nb-POMs, akin to an inorganic analogue of biological model organisms such as the fruit fly, inspired the title of this Account. The common building unit born from the disassembly of Nb10 is [Nb7O20(OH, H2O)2](5-7)-, and the hydroxyl/aqua ligands provide reactivity for linking via condensation reactions, ligand exchange, heterometals, or oxoanions. We can coax these newly assembled Nb-POMs (detected by small-angle X-ray scattering, SAXS) to crystallize via the usual methods of vapor diffusion, salting out, and reduced temperature, and the single-crystal X-ray diffraction structures are valuable for understanding reaction mechanisms to fine-tune control and yield a landscape of topologies and compositions. Beyond providing an opportunity to comprehend and diversify POM chemistry, the reactivity of Nb10 yields highly soluble (i.e., >2 M Nb), nearly neutral aqueous solutions of niobium, ideal for the solution-phase deposition of thin films, demonstrated with LiNbO3, (Na,K)NbO3, Nb2O5, and heterometal-doped Nb2O5. The obtained films are cohesive and smooth, enabled by the tendency of these solutions to gel if simply evaporated quickly.Per our current endeavors, this gelation behavior provides an opportunity to develop new soft, flexible materials including inorganic networks, organic-inorganic networks, and porous solids and explore their material properties including base catalysis and sorption (i.e., CO2). Nb-POM (and Ta-POM) discovery and implementation of properties is far from complete. While heterometal (d and f element) substitution is easy with classic POMs, imparting a whole host of functions (tuned luminescence, catalysis, electroactivity, etc.), it remains a challenge with Nb-POMs due to pH incompatibility with most heterometals. This grand challenge that defies fundamental aqueous behavior of metal cations requires the creation of liquid mixtures that include polymer and/or ionic liquid components, and the creation of such reaction media can impact synthesis beyond POM chemistry. The goal of this Account is to describe the recent advances in Nb-POM chemistry, afforded by the Nb10 "fruit fly", and to also provide insight into the next large steps needed to advance Nb-POM chemistry.

Enhanced Catalytic Performance of a Ce/V Oxo Cluster through Confinement in Mesoporous SBA-15

To increase catalytic efficiency, mesoporous supports have been widely applied to immobilize well-defined metal oxide clusters due to their ability to stabilize highly dispersed clusters. Herein, a redox-active heterometallic Ce₁₂V₆-oxo cluster (CeV) was first presynthesized and then incorporated into mesoporous silica, SBA-15, via a straightforward impregnation method. Scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), in concert with scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), verified the successful introduction of the CeV cluster inside the pore of SBA-15. The ⁵¹V magic angle spinning solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (⁵¹V MAS NMR) spectroscopy and differential pair distribution function (dPDF) analysis confirmed the structural integrity of the CeV cluster inside the SBA-15. The composite was then benchmarked for liquid-phase oxidation of 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (CEES) under mild conditions and gas-phase oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) of propane under high temperatures (up to 550 °C). The catalytic reactivity results demonstrated 8- and 14-fold increase in turnover frequency (TOF) values of the composite (CeV@10SBA-2) than the bulk CeV cluster under the same conditions for CEES oxidation and ODH, respectively. These results highlight the improved reactivity of the catalytically active CeV cluster as attributed to the higher dispersion of the discrete cluster upon immobilization within the SBA-15 support.

Water at charged interfaces

The ubiquity of aqueous solutions in contact with charged surfaces and the realization that the molecular-level details of water-surface interactions often determine interfacial functions and properties relevant in many natural processes have led to intensive research. Even so, many open questions remain regarding the molecular picture of the interfacial organization and preferential alignment of water molecules, as well as the structure of water molecules and ion distributions at different charged interfaces. While water, solutes and charge are present in each of these systems, the substrate can range from living tissues to metals. This diversity in substrates has led to different communities considering each of these types of aqueous interface. In this Review, by considering water in contact with metals, oxides and biomembranes, we show the essential similarity of these disparate systems. While in each case the classical mean-field theories can explain many macroscopic and mesoscopic observations, it soon becomes apparent that such theories fail to explain phenomena for which molecular properties are relevant, such as interfacial chemical conversion. We highlight the current knowledge and limitations in our understanding and end with a view towards future opportunities in the field.

Stabilizing Reactive Fe(III) Clusters by Freeze-Dry/Solvent-Exchange To Benchmark Iron Hydrolysis Pathways

Isolating Fe(III) clusters from water without stabilizing ligands is significantly challenged by the high acidity of Fe³⁺-bound water, leading to uncontrolled precipitation of iron oxyhydroxides. Here we demonstrate a freeze-drying solvent-exchange method that enabled the isolation of a metastable Fe(III) sulfate decameric cluster formulated [Fe₁₀O₂(SO₄)₁₂(OCH₃)₂]·14CH₃OH (Fe₁₀). Without stabilization by solvent-exchange, the aqueous species undergoes rapid conversion to the iron sulfate mineral schwertmannite. Monitoring the hydrolysis process from cluster intermediates to schertmannite by small-angle X-ray scattering, we observe the progression from Fe₁₀ to 37 Å soluble nanoparticles prior to the precipitation process. This condensation behavior of Fe₁₀ is further exploited to develop a simple laboratory synthesis of schwetmannite. In addition, we demonstrate the versatility of the freeze-drying solvent-exchange method by isolating Al(III), Zn(II), and Cd(II) substituted Fe(III) sulfate clusters. The freeze-drying solvent-exchange method provides a unique opportunity to isolate cluster intermediates and models to aid in our understanding of metal-ion hydrolysis processes in environmental, material science, and geological studies.

The lithium–water configuration encapsulated by uranyl peroxide cage cluster U24

Lithium cations encapsulated within the U₂₄ nanocapsule are in square pyramidal and octahedral coordination environments imposed by the topology of the cluster, whereas lithium outside the cages are in a tetrahedral coordination environment.

Captivation with encapsulation: a dozen years of exploring uranyl peroxide capsules

Uranyl peroxide cages are an extensive family of topologically varied self-assembling nanoscale clusters with fascinating properties and applications.

Aggregation and Dissociation of Aqueous Al13 Induced by Fluoride Substitution

The ε-Keggin ion AlO₄Al₁₂(OH)₂₄(H₂O)₁₂⁷⁺ (ε-K Al₁₃⁷⁺) is a double-edged sword, because it commonly acts as a toxic component toward aquatic organisms, but also is considered to be an effective coagulant. Gaining deep insight into the transformation of ε-K Al₁₃⁷⁺ in the presence of coexisting ligands would have significant implications for water environmental science, as well as for practical water purification. The aggregation and dissociation of aqueous Al₁₃⁷⁺ induced by fluoride (F^-) substitution were herein investigated using nuclear magnetic resonance, electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry, and theoretical calculations. The F^- substitution on η-OH₂ sites was extremely fast, reducing the charge of ε-K Al₁₃⁷⁺ so that the repulsive force between fluorinated Al₁₃ species was immediately reduced. Consequently, fluorinated Al₁₃ aggregated, with the formula [Al₁₃F₅]²⁺, which was demonstrated by calculating the Gibbs free energy changes (Δ_rG) of the substitution reactions involved. Moreover, the replacement of η-OH₂ with F^- weakened the strength of Al-OH^a/b bonds and thus prompted the replacement of μ-OH^a/b with F^-. In addition, fluorination prompted [Al₁₃F₅]²⁺ to dissociate to oligomers.

Detection of the electronic structure of iron-(iii)-oxo oligomers forming in aqueous solutions

The electronic structure of the small iron-oxo oligomers forming in iron-(iii) aqueous solutions is determined from liquid jet photoelectron spectroscopy.

Manganese Compounds as Water-Oxidizing Catalysts: From the Natural Water-Oxidizing Complex to Nanosized Manganese Oxide Structures

All cyanobacteria, algae, and plants use a similar water-oxidizing catalyst for water oxidation. This catalyst is housed in Photosystem II, a membrane-protein complex that functions as a light-driven water oxidase in oxygenic photosynthesis. Water oxidation is also an important reaction in artificial photosynthesis because it has the potential to provide cheap electrons from water for hydrogen production or for the reduction of carbon dioxide on an industrial scale. The water-oxidizing complex of Photosystem II is a Mn-Ca cluster that oxidizes water with a low overpotential and high turnover frequency number of up to 25-90 molecules of O2 released per second. In this Review, we discuss the atomic structure of the Mn-Ca cluster of the Photosystem II water-oxidizing complex from the viewpoint that the underlying mechanism can be informative when designing artificial water-oxidizing catalysts. This is followed by consideration of functional Mn-based model complexes for water oxidation and the issue of Mn complexes decomposing to Mn oxide. We then provide a detailed assessment of the chemistry of Mn oxides by considering how their bulk and nanoscale properties contribute to their effectiveness as water-oxidizing catalysts.

Acidity constants and redox potentials of uranyl ions in hydrothermal solutions

We report a first principles molecular dynamics (FPMD) study of the structures, acidity constants (pK_a) and redox potentials (E⁰) of uranyl (UO₂²⁺) from ambient conditions to 573 K.

Acid-base dissociation mechanisms and energetics at the silica-water interface: An activationless process

HYPOTHESIS

Silanol groups at the silica-water interface determine not only the surface charge, but also have an important role in the binding of ions and biomolecules. As the pH is increased above pH 2, the silica surface develops a net negative charge primarily due to deprotonation of the silanol group. An improved understanding of the energetics and mechanisms of this fundamentally important process would further understanding of the relevant dynamics.

SIMULATIONS

Density Functional Theory ab initio molecular dynamics and geometry optimisations were used to investigate the mechanisms of surface neutralisation and charging in the presence of OH(-) and H3O(+) respectively. This charging mechanism has received little attention in the literature.

FINDINGS

The protonation or deprotonation of isolated silanols in the presence of H3O(+) or OH(-), respectively, was shown to be a highly rapid, exothermic reaction with no significant activation energy. This process occurred via a concerted motion of the protons through 'water wires'. Geometry optimisations of large water clusters at the silica surface demonstrated proton transfer to the surface occurring via the rarely discussed 'proton holes' mechanism. This indicates that surface protonation is possible even when the hydronium ion is distant (at least 4 water molecules separation) from the surface.

Fe(III) nucleation in the presence of bivalent cations and oxyanions leads to subnanoscale 7 Å polymers

Highly disordered Fe(III) phases formed in the presence of bivalent cations and oxyanions represent important components of the global Fe cycle due to their potential for rapid turnover and their critical roles in controlling the speciation of major and trace elements. However, a poor understanding of the formation pathway and structure of these Fe phases has prevented assessments of their thermodynamic properties and biogeochemical reactivity. In this work, we derive structural models for the Fe(III)-As(V)-Ca and Fe(III)-P-Ca polymers formed from Fe(II) oxidation and Fe(III) polymerization in the presence of As(V)/P and Ca. The polymer phase consists of a less than 7 Å coherent network of As(V)/P coordinated to Fe(III) polyhedra, with varying amounts of Ca bound directly and indirectly to the oxyanion. This phase forms at the onset of Fe(II) oxidation and, because of its large oxyanion:Fe solids ratio, depletes the oxyanion concentration with only small amounts of Fe. Our results demonstrate that when a steady supply of Fe(III) is provided from an Fe(II) source, these Fe(III) polymers, which dominate oxyanion uptake, form with little dependence on the initial oxyanion concentration. The formation mechanisms and structures of the oxyanion-rich Fe(III) polymers determined in this study enable future thermodynamic investigations of these phases, which are required to model the interrelated biogeochemical cycles of Fe, As(V)/P, and Ca.

Pressure induced speciation changes in the aqueous Al³⁺ system

We have developed a simple model for incorporating the influence of external pressure and solution pH into a cluster based (i.e. comprising the central Al(3+) cation and nearest neighbor coordinating H2O and OH(-) ligands) 1st principles approach to investigate the hydrolysis equilibria of aqueous Al(3+) monomeric species in high pressure environments such as are found in the Earth's mantle. Our model is demonstrated to reproduce the well documented bulk chemistry of the aqueous Al(3+) system under ambient conditions, namely the system is dominated at low and high pH by the 6-coordinated aqua species and 4 coordinated hydroxide species, respectively, while all remaining species occupy a narrow intermediate pH range. Coupling this model to changes in solution pH is achieved by using [H3O(+)] as a parameter in the definition of the formation equilibrium constants used; the influence of external pressure is evaluated using Planck's equation. This approach predicts that changes in external pressure will induce drastic changes in the aqueous solubility of these species under high pressure conditions and moderate changes at as low as 5 GPa. Finally, some industrial and geochemical implications of this result are discussed.

Electrochemical properties and relaxation times of the hematite/water interface

Electric double layer properties and protonation rates at the surface of a mechanically and chemically polished (001) surface of hematite (α-Fe2O3) contacted with aqueous solutions of NaCl were extracted by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Effects of pH (4-12) and ionic strength (10-1000 mM) on the EIS response of the electrode were predicted using an electrical equivalent circuit model accounting for hematite bulk and interfacial processes. These efforts generated diffuse layer as well as compact layer capacitances and resistance values pertaining to interfacial processes. Diffuse layer capacitance values lie in the 0.5-0.6 μF cm(-2) region and are about 1.5 times smaller than those obtained on a roughened hematite surface. Compact layer capacitances are strongly pH dependent as they pertain to the transfer of ions (charge carriers) from the diffuse layer onto surface (hydr)oxo groups. These values, alongside those of resistance adsorption, pointed a 50% decrease in proton adsorption/desorption resistance under acidic and alkaline conditions relative to that of the point of zero charge (pH 8-9). Increasing ionic strength generally induces larger diffuse layer capacitances, larger adsorption capacitances, and lower resistance values. Such a response is in line with the concept for thinner electric double layers and facilitated proton adsorption reactions by solutions of high ionic strengths. Relaxation times pertaining to the transfer of charge carriers across the compact plane induced by the EIS experiments lie in the 0.7-4.2 s range and become larger under acidic conditions. Decreases in site availability and increases in electrostatic repulsion are two possible contributing factors impeding reaction rates below the point of zero charge. Collectively, these finding are underpinning important relationships between classical views on mineral surface complexation reactions and electrochemical views of semiconductor/water interfaces.

Water exchange in manganese-based water-oxidizing catalysts in photosynthetic systems: from the water-oxidizing complex in photosystem II to nano-sized manganese oxides

The water-oxidizing complex (WOC), also known as the oxygen-evolving complex (OEC), of photosystem II in oxygenic photosynthetic organisms efficiently catalyzes water oxidation. It is, therefore, responsible for the presence of oxygen in the Earth's atmosphere. The WOC is a manganese-calcium (Mn₄CaO₅(H₂O)₄) cluster housed in a protein complex. In this review, we focus on water exchange chemistry of metal hydrates and discuss the mechanisms and factors affecting this chemical process. Further, water exchange rates for both the biological cofactor and synthetic manganese water splitting are discussed. The importance of fully unveiling the water exchange mechanism to understand the chemistry of water oxidation is also emphasized here. This article is part of a special issue entitled: photosynthesis research for sustainability: keys to produce clean energy.

Rydberg electron capture by neutral Al hydrolysis products

We predict that electron attachment may be used with ESI-MS techniques to observe neutral Al metal aqua-oxo-hydroxo species and the complex polymerization and precipitation reactions in which they participate. Neutral aqueous metal species have, so far, been invisible to ESI-MS techniques.

Improved DFT-based interpretation of ESI-MS of aqueous metal cations

We present results showing that our recently developed density functional theory (DFT)-based speciation model of the aqueous Al(3+) system has the potential to improve the interpretations of ESI-MS studies of aqueous metal cation hydrolytic speciation. The main advantages of our method are that (1) it allows for the calculation of the relative abundance of a given species which may be directly assigned to the signal intensity in a mass spectrum; (2) in cases where species with identical m⁄z ratios may coexist, the assignment can be unambiguously assigned based on their theoretical relative abundances. As a demonstration of its application, we study four pairs of monomer and dimer aqueous Al(3+) species, each with identical m/z ratio. For some of these pairs our method predicts that the dominant species changes from the monomer to the dimer species under varying pH conditions.

An 17O NMR Study of Hydrolyzed Nb(V) in Weakly Acidic and Basic Aqueous Solution

Time-dependent ¹⁷O NMR spectra of basified decaniobate (Nb₁₀O₂₈^6-) solutions displayed intense resonances assigned to the well-known protonated hexaniobate anion (Nb₆O₁₉^8-) and two other species identified as heptaniobate (Nb₇O₂₂^9-) and protonated tetracosaniobate (Nb₂₄O₇₂^24-) anions. The decaniobate ion showed no sign of protonation from pH 6 - 10, in contrast with the hexaniobate ion which was protonated at doubly-bridging oxygen sites at pH 10-13. Most (> 90%) of the heptaniobate formed 1 h after basification was transformed into other species after 3 weeks. Tetracosaniobate was formed reversibly from decaniobate, but only when KOH, NaOH and [(CH₃)₄N]OH were employed; none was observed after basification with [(n-C₄H₉)₄N]OH. Moreover, far more tetracosaniobate was formed from KOH than from [(CH₃)₄N]OH. This effect was attributed to a tetracosaniobate cation binding site that binds K⁺ more readily than (CH₃)₄N⁺ but is too small to accommodate (n-C₄H₉)₄N⁺.

Computational insight into the initial steps of the Mars-van Krevelen mechanism: electron transfer and surface defects in the reduction of polyoxometalates

Metal oxides as a rule oxidize and oxygenate substrates via the Mars-van Krevelen mechanism. A well-defined α-Keggin polyoxometalate, H(5)PV(2)Mo(10)O(40), can be viewed as an analogue of discrete structure that reacts via the Mars-van Krevelen mechanism both in solution and in the gas phase. Guided by previous experimental observations, we have studied the key intermediates on the reaction pathways of its reduction by various compounds using high-level DFT calculations. These redox reactions of polyoxometalates require protons, and thus such complexes were explicitly considered. First, the energetics of outer-sphere proton and electron transfer as well as coupled proton and electron transfer were calculated for seven substrates. This was followed by identification of possible key intermediates on the subsequent reaction pathways that feature displacement of the metal atom from the Keggin structure and coordinatively unsaturated sites on the H(5)PV(2)Mo(10)O(40) surface. Such metal defects are favored at vanadium sites. For strong reducing agents the initial outer-sphere electron transfer, alone or possibly coupled with proton transfer, facilitates formation of metal defects. Subsequent coordination allows for formation of reactive ensembles on the catalyst surface, for which the selective oxygen-transfer step becomes feasible. Weak reducing agents do not facilitate defect formation by outer-sphere electron and/or proton transfers, and thus formation of metal defect structures prior to the substrate activation is suggested as an initial step. Calculated geometries and energies of metal defect structures support experimentally observed intermediates and demonstrate the complex nature of the Mars-van Krevelen mechanism.

Density functional theory studies on the structures and water-exchange reactions of aqueous Al(III)-oxalate complexes

The structures and water-exchange reactions of aqueous aluminum-oxalate complexes are investigated using density functional theory. The present work includes (1) The structures of Al(C(2)O(4))(H(2)O)(4)(+) and Al(C(2)O(4))(2)(H(2)O)(2)(-) were optimized at the level of B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p). The geometries obtained suggest that the Al-OH(2) bond lengths trans to C(2)O(4)(2-) ligand in Al(C(2)O(4))(H(2)O)(4)(+) are much longer than the Al-OH(2) bond lengths cis to C(2)O(4)(2-). For Al(C(2)O(4))(2)(H(2)O)(2)(-), the close energies between cis and trans isomers imply the coexistence in aqueous solution. The (27)Al NMR and (13)C NMR chemical shifts computed with the consideration of sufficient solvent effect using HF GIAO method and 6-311+G(d,p) basis set are in agreement with the experimental values available, indicating the appropriateness of the applied models; (2) The water-exchange reactions of Al(III)-oxalate complexes were simulated at the same computational level. The results show that water exchange proceeds via dissociative pathway and the activation energy barriers are sensitive to the solvent effect. The energy barriers obtained indicate that the coordinated H(2)O cis to C(2)O(4)(2-) in Al(C(2)O(4))(H(2)O)(4)(+) is more labile than trans H(2)O. The water-exchange rate constants (k(ex)) of trans- and cis-Al(C(2)O(4))(2)(H(2)O)(2)(-) were estimated by four methods and their respective characteristics were explored; (3) The significance of the study on the aqueous aluminum-oxalate complexes to environmental chemistry is discussed. The influences of ubiquitous organic ligands in environment on aluminum chemistry behavior can be elucidated by extending this study to a series of Al(III)-organic system.