Self-assembly and morphology change of four organic-polyoxometalate hybrids with different solid structures from 2D lamellar to 3D hexagonal forms

Photoluminescent polymer hydrogels with stimuli-responsiveness constructed from Eu-containing polyoxometalate and imidazolium zwitterions

Inorganic-organic co-assembly of anionic polyoxometalates (POMs) with zwitterions provides a facile way to fabricate functional soft materials. In this paper, a translucent, photoluminescent polymer hydrogel was fabricated from Weakley-type POM Na9EuW10O36 (EuW10) and polymerizable imidazole-type zwitterion 3-(1-vinyl-3-imidazolio)propanesulfonate (VIPS) via a one-step synthesis method. Detailed characterization indicated that the polymerization of double bonds in VIPS and electrostatic interactions between EuW10 and VIPS play important roles in the formation of the hydrogels. Additionally, the introduction of non-polymerizable zwitterions 3-(1-methyl-3-imidazolio)propanesulfonate (MIPS) or 3-(1-decyl-3-imidazolio)propanesulfonate (C10IPS) can improve the mechanical and luminous performances of the hydrogels. Especially, C10IPS with a long alkyl chain would more significantly alter the coordination environment of EuW10, and consequently resulted in a more efficient energy transfer process. Further investigations revealed that the chemical environment around the Eu3+ can be highly influenced by organic solvents with stronger coordination abilities than water molecules, such as acetone. The translucency and luminescence intensity of the hydrogels can be reversibly transformed after alternately immersing in acetone or H2O for several minutes. Our results provided a useful strategy for the fabrication of luminescent hydrogels by regulating the noncovalent interactions between POMs and zwitterions.

Are Keggin's POMs Charged Nanocolloids or Multicharged Anions?

Owing to their multiple charges and their nanometric size, polyoxometalates (POMs) are at the frontier between ions and charged colloids. We investigated here the effect of POM-POM electrostatics repulsions on their self-diffusion in water by varying POM and supporting salt concentrations. The self-diffusion coefficients of two Keggin's POMs [silicotungstate (SiW₁₂O₄₀^4-) and phosphotungstate (PW₁₂O₄₀^3-)] were determined by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and ¹H/³¹P DOSY NMR, whereas POM-POM electrostatic repulsions were investigated by the determination of the static structure factors using small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The self-diffusion coefficients for the two POMs and for different POM/background salt concentrations were collected in a master curve by comparing the averaged POM-POM distance in solution to the Debye length. As for classical charged colloids, we show that the POM's counterions should not be considered in the calculation of the ionic strength that governs POM-POM electrostatic repulsions. This result was confirmed by fitting the POM-POM structure factor by considering a pair potential of spherical charged particles using the well-known Hayter mean spherical approximation (MSA). These Keggin POMs also behave as (super)chaotropic anions (i.e., they have a strong propensity to adsorb on (neutral polar) surfaces, which was also investigated) here on the surface of octyl-β-glucoside (C₈G₁) micelles. The variations of (i) the chemical shift of ¹H/³¹P NMR signals and (ii) the self-diffusion coefficients obtained by DOSY ¹H/³¹P NMR of PW^3- and of C₈G₁ were in good agreement, confirming the strong adsorption of POMs on the micelle polar surface from static and dynamic points of view. We concluded that Keggin's POMs behave (i) as anions because they adsorb on surfaces as chaotropic anions and (ii) as colloids because they can be described by a classical colloidal approach by dynamic and static scattering techniques (i.e., by the investigation of their interparticle electrostatic structure factor and self-diffusion without considering the POM's counterions in the ionic strength calculation). This work highlights the dynamic properties of POMs at soft interfaces compared to bulk aqueous solution, which is essential in the understanding of functional properties of POMs, such as (photo)catalysis and the rational design of POM-based hybrid nanomaterials from soft templating routes (i.e., in aqueous solutions at room temperature).