Incorporation of Transition‐Metal‐Ion Guests (Co 2+ , Ni 2+ , Cu 2+ , Zn 2+ ) into the Ti 2 ‐Containing 18‐Tungsto‐2‐arsenate(III) Monolacunary Host

Revisiting the Three Vanadium Sandwich-Type Polyoxometalates: Structures, Solution Behavior, and Redox Properties

It is well known that the trivacant anions α-B-[XW₉O₃₃]^9- react with vanadyl ions to give the sandwich-type polyoxometalates [(V^IVO)₃(XW₉O₃₃)₂]^12- with X = As^III or Sb^III. Nevertheless, the oxidized derivatives have been obtained selectively by electrochemical oxidation from the fully reduced derivatives [(V^IVO)₃(XW₉O₃₃)₂]^12- allowing full characterization both in solution using UV-vis and multinuclear (¹⁷O, ⁵¹V, and ¹⁸³W) NMR spectroscopies and in the solid state by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Structural analysis of the oxidized [(V^VO)₃(XW₉O₃₃)₂]^9- polyanions is consistent with the idealized D_3h symmetry, while solution studies reveal a fair hydrolytic stability in a wide pH range from 0 to 6. Besides, the D_3h polyanions either as reduced or oxidized forms [(VO)₃(AsW₉O₃₃)₂]^9/12- have been identified as the thermodynamic product that results from the conversion of the C_2v polyanion [(H₂O)(VO)₃(AsW₉O₃₃)₂]^9/12- through moderate heating. Conversely, the Sb^III-containing derivative gives exclusively the D_3h polyanion, probably either due to the extended lone pair of the trigonal Sb^III heterogroup that prevents the formation of the C_2v arrangement or the lability of the oxo-metalate bonds that favor chemical exchange. The electrochemical studies of sandwich-type polyoxometalates revealed that each {V═O} group gives rise to a one-electron transfer process. At last, the redox properties appear strongly altered in the 0.3-5 pH range, consistent with proton-coupled electron transfers.

Removal of nitrate nitrogen from water by phosphotungstate-supported TiO2 photocatalytic method

Nitrate nitrogen in water, especially in groundwater, is a major problem in the current drinking water environment. In this study, copper- and nickel-modified phosphotungstate catalysts supported on TiO₂ were prepared by the sol-gel solvothermal method, and photocatalytic reduction by phosphotungstate was used to remove nitrate nitrogen in water under ultraviolet irradiation. The maximum removal rate was 59.60% with 0.8 g/L Cu-H₃PW₁₂O₄₀/TiO₂, 90 mg/L nitrate nitrogen, and 60 min reaction time. For Ni-H₃PW₁₂O₄₀/TiO₂, the maximum removal rate of nitrate nitrogen was 54.58%, achieved with a catalyst concentration of 0.8 g/L, nitrate nitrogen concentration of 120 mg/L, and reaction time of 30 min. Both catalysts could remove nitrate nitrogen from water under the condition of photocatalysis.