Proton-conducting layered structures based on transition metal oxo-clusters supported by Sb(iii) tartrate scaffolds

Synthesis and Properties of Cobalt/Nickel-Iron-Antimony(III, V)-Oxo Tartrate Cluster-Based Compounds

Two types of isostructural iron-cobalt/nickel-antimony-oxo tartrate cluster-based compounds, namely (H3O)(Me2NH2)[M(H2O)6]2[FeII2SbIII12(μ4-O)3(μ3-O)8(tta)6]·6H2O (M = Co (1); Ni (3)), H5/3[Co2.5FeII4/3FeIII3(H2O)13SbV1/3FeIII2/3(μ4-O)2(μ3-O)4SbIII6(μ3-O)2(tta)6]·2H2O (2) and H2[Ni2.25FeII1.5FeIII3(H2O)14SbV0.25FeIII0.75(μ4-O)2(μ3-O)4SbIII6(μ3-O)2(tta)6]·2H2O (4) (H4tta = tartaric acid) were synthesized via simple solvothermal reactions. All the clusters in the structures adopt sandwich configurations, that is, bilayer sandwich configuration in 1 and 3 and monolayer sandwich configuration in 2 and 4. Interestingly, the monolayer sandwiched compounds 2 and 4 represent rare examples of cluster-based compounds containing mixed-valence Sb(III, V), whose center of the intermediate layer is the co-occupied [FexSbV1-x]. This is different from that of previously reported sandwich-type antimony-oxo clusters in which the center position is either occupied by a transition metal ion or a Sb(V) alone. Thus, the discovery of title compounds 2 and 4 makes the evolution of center metal ion more complete, that is, from M, MxSbV1-x to SbV. All the title compounds were fully characterized, and the photocatalysis, proton conduction and magnetism of compounds 2 and 4 were studied.

Mixed-valence compounds based on heterometallic-oxo-clusters containing Sb(III,V): crystal structures and proton conduction

Two isostructural Co(Cd)-antimony-oxo tartrate cluster-based compounds with a one-dimensional (1-D) belt-like structure, namely H9.2[Co(H2O)6]{M0.5(H2O)3.5{M'(H2O)4[SbVO6[Co4.2(H2O)5SbIII6(μ3-O)2(tta)6]]}}2·nH2O (M = Co, M' = Co, n = 9 (1); M = Cd0.39/Co0.61, M' = Cd0.24/Co0.76, n = 7 (2); H4tta = tartaric acid), have been synthesized by solvothermal methods. It is noteworthy that the relatively rare mixed-valence Sb(III,V) exists in the structures. The anionic clusters in both compounds appear to be in a sandwich configuration; the top and bottom layers are based on {Sb3(μ3-O)(tta)3} brackets, and the intermediate layer is occupied by {SbVO6[Co4.2(H2O)5]}. The title compounds have been characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, powder X-ray diffraction, elemental analyses, thermogravimetric analyses, and UV-Vis spectroscopy. We chose compound 2 as a representative to test its proton conductivity, and the results show that the conductivity can reach 1.42 × 10-3 S cm-1 at 85 °C under 98% relative humidity.

Structural Evolution and Properties of Praseodymium Antimony Oxochlorides Based on a Chain-like Tertiary Building Unit

Unveiling the structural evolution of single-crystalline compounds based on certain building units may help greatly in guiding the design of complex structures. Herein, a series of praseodymium antimony oxohalide crystals have been isolated under solvothermal conditions via adjusting the solvents used, that is, [HN(CH2CH3)3][FeII(2,2′-bpy)3][Pr4Sb12O18Cl15]·EtOH (1) (2,2′-bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine), [HN(CH2CH3)3][FeII(2,2′-bpy)3]2[Pr4Sb12O18Cl14)2Cl]·N(CH2CH3)3·2H2O (2), and (H3O)[Pr4Sb12O18Cl12.5(TEOA)0.5]·2.5EtOH (3) (TEOA = mono-deprotonated triethanolamine anion). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that all the three structures feature an anionic zig-zag chain of [Pr4Sb12O18Cl15−x]n as the tertiary building unit (TBU), which is formed by interconnections of praseodymium antimony oxochloride clusters (denoted as {Pr4Sb12}) as secondary building units. Interestingly, different arrangements or linkages of chain-like TBUs result in one-dimensional, two-dimensional layered, and three-dimensional structures of 1, 2, and 3, respectively, thus demonstrating clearly the structural evolution of metal oxohalide crystals. The title compounds have been characterized by elemental analysis, powder X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, and UV-Vis spectroscopy, and the photodegradation for methyl blue in an aqueous solution of compound 1 has been preliminarily studied. This work offers a way to deeply understand the assembly process of intricate lanthanide-antimony(III) oxohalide structures at the atomic level.

Organoamine-Directed Assembly of 5p-4f Heterometallic Cluster Substituted Polyoxometalates: Luminescence and Proton Conduction Properties

The assembly of heterometallic cluster substituted polyoxometalates (POMs) remains a great challenge for inorganic synthetic chemistry up to now. Herein, a series of 5p-4f heterometallic cluster substituted POMs were successfully isolated by a facile one-step hydrothermal reaction method, namely H₁₇(H₂en)₃[Sb^III₉Sb^VLn₃O₁₄(H₂O)₃][(SbW₉O₃₃)₃(PW₉O₃₄)]·28H₂O(1-Ln, Ln = Ce, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy) (en = ethylenediamine). Interestingly, by replacing en with imidazole, another series of 5p-4f heterometallic cluster substituted POMs H₁₃(HIm)₄K₂Na₄(H₂O)₉[Sb^III₉Sb^VLn₃O₁₄(H₂O)₃][(SbW₉O₃₃)₃(PW₉O₃₄)]·26H₂O (2-Ln, Ln = Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Im = imidazole) were obtained. Structural analyses indicate that both 1-Ln and 2-Ln are made up of an unprecedented 5p-4f heterometallic {Sb₁₀Ln₃O₁₄(H₂O)₃} cluster stabilized simultaneously by mixed trilacunary heteropolyanions including {A-α-PW₉O₃₄} and {B-α-SbW₉O₃₃}. Impedance measurements indicate that both compounds exhibit different proton conduction properties, and the conductivity of 2 can reach up to 1.64 × 10^-2 S cm^-1 at 85 °C under 98% relative humidity. Moreover, the fluorescence emission behaviors of both compounds have been studied.

The Uptake of Hazardous Metal Ions into a High-Nuclearity Cluster-Based Compound with Structural Transformation and Proton Conduction

The discovery of novel high-nuclearity oxo-clusters considerably promotes the development of cluster science. We report a high-nuclearity oxo-cluster-based compound with acid/alkali-resistance and radiation stabilities, namely, (H₃O)₇[Cd₇Sb₂₄O₂₄(l-tta)₉(l-Htta)₃(H₂O)₆]·29H₂O (FJSM-CA; l-H₄tta = l-tartaric acid), which features a two-dimensionally anionic layer based on the largest Sb-oxo-clusters with 28-metal-ion-core [Cd₄Sb₂₄O₂₄]. It is challenging to efficiently capture Sr²⁺, Ba²⁺ (analogue of ²²⁶Ra), and [UO₂]²⁺ ions from aqueous solutions due to their high water solubility and environmental mobility, while it is unprecedented that a novel Sb-oxo-cluster-based framework material FJSM-CA can efficiently remove these hazardous ions accompanied with intriguing structural transformations. Especially, it shows fast ion-exchange abilities for Sr²⁺, Ba²⁺, and [UO₂]²⁺ (reaches equilibrium within 2, 10, and 20 min, respectively) and high exchange capacity (121.91 mg/g), removal rate R (96%), and distribution coefficient K_d^U (2.46 × 10⁴ mL/g) for uranium. Moreover, the underlying mechanism is clearly revealed, which is attributed to strong electrostatic interactions between exchanged cations and highly negative-charged frameworks and the strong affinity of (COO)^- groups for these cations. Proton conduction of the pristine and Sr²⁺, Ba²⁺, [UO₂]²⁺-loaded products was investigated. This work highlights the design of new oxo-cluster-based materials for radionuclide remediation and proton conduction performance.