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Unprecedented {Fe14 }/{Fe10 } Polyoxotungstate-Based Nanoclusters with Efficient Photocatalytic H2 Evolution
Vikram Singh1, Zhiyuan Chen1, Pengtao Ma1
1Henan Key Laboratory of Polyoxometalate Chemistry, Institute of Molecular and Crystal Engineering, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, P. R. China.
Abstract:
Novel Fe10 and Fe14 clusters [Rb9 Cs4 H37 Fe10 O34 (A-α-PW9 O31 )3 (OH)3 ]⋅36 H2 O (1) and [H3 Rb3 Fe14 (OH)12 (PO4 )6 (B-α-PW9 O34 )2 ]⋅21 H2 O (2) were synthesized and characterized in the solid state by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and magnetic studies, and in solution by electrochemistry. Cluster 1 is a decameric Fe(III) polyanionic cluster encapsulating a cesium atom in the center. Cluster 2 is a unique tetradecanuclear Fe(III) sandwich structure with phosphate-linked units featuring two quasicubic Fe4 O4 moieties. Apparently, 2 has the highest nuclearity of all known Fe(III) sandwich-type polyoxometalate clusters. Clusters 1 and 2 also act as photocatalysts with platinum as cocatalyst for H2 evolution from light-driven water splitting. Changes in the cyclovoltammetric patterns with variations in pH were observed for 1 and 2, most likely due to intermolecular interactions among the high-nuclearity Fe(III) cluster cores and subsequent changes in the acid-base properties of the two reduced POMs. Magnetic studies provide evidence of antiferromagnetic interactions in 1 and 2. TGA showed that complexes 1 and 2 decompose between 580 and 590 °C.
