Study of the decomposition pathway of 12-molybdophosphoric acid in aqueous solutions by micro Raman spectroscopy

Functional Nanostructures from Sol-Gel Synthesis Using Keggin Polyoxometallate Phosphotungstic Acid as a Precursor

Subjecting phosphotungstic acid solutions to low pH in combination with introduction of polyvalent cations led to the formation of nanostructured microspheres of approximately 2 μm in size, as shown by scanning electron microscopy, which were almost insoluble and resistant to degradation at neutral and high pH. These microspheres were composed of secondary nanospheres with diameters around 20 nm as revealed by transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Investigations of the crystal structure of a potential intermediate of this process, namely, acidic lanthanum phosphotungstate, [La(H2O)9](H3O)3[PW12O40]2(H2O)19, showed a tight network of hydrogen bonding, permitting closer packing of phosphotungstic acid anions, thereby confirming the mechanism of the observed self-assembly process. The new material demonstrated promising electrochemical properties in oxygen evolution reactions with the high stability of the obtained electrode material.

Factors influencing stoichiometry and stability of polyoxometalate - peptide complexes

In the pursuit of understanding the factors guiding interactions between polyoxometalates (POMs) and biomolecules, several complexes between Keggin phosphomolybdate and diglycine have been produced at different acidity and salinity conditions, leading to difference in stoichiometry and in crystal structure. Principal factors determining how the POM and dipeptide interact appear to be pH, ionic strength of the medium, and the molar ratio of POM to peptide. An important effect turned out to be even the structure-directing role of the sodium cations coordinating carbonyl functions of the peptide bond. Given the interest in applying POMs in biological systems, these factors are highly relevant to consider. In the view of recent interest in using POMs as nano catalysts in peptide hydrolysis also the potential Keggin POM transformation in phosphate buffered saline medium was investigated leading to insight that nanoparticles of zirconium phosphate (ZrP) can be actual catalysts for breakdown of the peptide bond.

Improvement of the Hydrolytic Stability of the Keggin Molybdo- and Tungsto-Phosphate Anions by Cyclodextrins

Keggin-type molybdo- and tungsto-phosphate polyoxoanions are among the most popular polyoxometalates (POMs) but suffer from their limited stability at low pH in aqueous solution. Their superchaotropic properties generate strong supramolecular complexes with cyclodextrins (CDs), which significantly affect the hydrolytic stability of POM. This chaotropically driven stabilization effect was systematically monitored by ³¹P NMR spectroscopy covering a wide range of pH (from 0 to 8) and varying the nature of the CD (α-, β-, and γ-form). A shift of ca. two pH units of the stability domains of these POMs was found in the presence of two equivalents of γ-CD compared to pure water, leading to keep intact the PW₁₂O₄₀^3- anion without any decomposition up to pH 3.5 (versus 1.5 in pure water) and pH 2.5 for PMo₁₂O₄₀^3-, which begins to decompose even at pH 0 in pure water. The effect of the smaller CDs (α- and β-form) is much less pronounced (only 0.5 pH units shift of the stability domain) confirming the importance of host-guest size matching to form a sandwich-type inclusion complex and thus protect the POM structure against basic hydrolysis. Such complexation was further supported by ¹⁸³W and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. Finally, using quantitative ³¹P NMR analyses, the new speciation and formation constants of phospho-molybdates and phospho-tungstates in the presence of cyclodextrins are determined and compared to those previously reported in pure water or in the 50:50 water/1,4-dioxane mixture.

Water-soluble titanium-polyoxomolybdate with external μ3 bridging oxygen coordination on a lacunary Keggin structure

The first water-soluble titanium-containing polyoxomolybdate was synthesized and structurally characterized, showing photocatalytic activity in benzaldehyde oxidation.

Polyoxometalates in solution: speciation under spotlight

The review covers stability and transformations of classical polyoxometalates in aqueous solutions and provides their ion-distribution diagrams over a wide pH range.

Better understanding and applications of ammonium 12-molybdophosphate-based diffusive gradient in thin film techniques for measuring Cs in waters

This study deals with further and systematic laboratory evaluation of the already known ammonium 12-molybdophosphate (AMP)-diffusive gradient in thin film (DGT) method, which is used for measuring total Cs concentration in environmental waters. This study confirms that the AMP-binding gel is not stable for pH > 6. In order to reveal a potential impact of AMP degradation on DGT application, time-series experiments were performed by deploying AMP-DGT samplers in Cs-doped moderately basic soft and hard water up to total AMP-binding gel degradation (60 and 175 h of deployment time, respectively). Linear accumulation of Cs by AMP-DGT samplers was observed up to 48 and 58 h in hard and soft waters, respectively. For this deployment time range, AMP-DGT measured over 77 ± 10 and 94 ± 16% of total Cs concentration in hard and soft water, respectively. The difference in DGT response was attributed to Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ competition reducing the uptake of AMP-DGT samplers in hard water. Shrinkage of agarose-polyacrylamide diffusive gel was experimentally observed only in hard water due to more intensive AMP-binding gel degradation in hard water. Even if the AMP-DGT response was not impacted in this study, it is recommended to use agarose hydrogel as standard diffusive gel. Based on the experience obtained from this detailed validation process, the authors propose a number of key requirements that need to be considered when developing DGT devices, with testing the performance over longer deployment times being critical. Graphical abstract ᅟ.

The Keggin Structure: An Important Factor in Governing NH3–SCR Activity Over the V2O5–MoO3/TiO2 Catalyst

Abstract

Heteropolyacids and their salts have been effectively used in selective catalytic reduction because of the Keggin structure and extraordinarily strong acidity. Catalysts with and without the Keggin structure were synthesized to further investigate the effects of heteropolyoxometallate on low temperature NH3–SCR. XRD, BET, Raman, H2–TPR, NH3–TPD, FT-IR, and SO2–TPD techniques were used to characterize the physicochemical characteristics of the catalysts. Results indicate that catalysts with the Keggin structure had more surface Brönsted and Lewis acid sites, and these catalysts had significantly improved performances in the SCR reaction and in SO2 poisoning resistance.

Graphical Abstract