Research

Since the establishment of research group in 2008, we insist on the synthetic chemistry of polyoxometalates (POMs). Aiming at the basic scientific problems in the application of new energy materials and catalysis, we seek new solutions with the help of POM chemistry.

    1. In the synthetic field of POM-based porous materials, we use the three important roles of POMs in crystalline porous materials, that is, node, pillars and templates, to synthesize a series of new porous compounds, exploring new synthetic methods and expanding their properties in gas adsorption, heterogeneous catalysis, proton conductor property, photocatalysis and electrode materials of secondary batteries.

（J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2009, 131, 14600; Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2012, 51, 7985; Chem. Eur. J., 2015, 21, 3778; Inorg. Chem., 2018, 57, 4109.）

 

  2. In the synthetic field of POM-based high nuclear clusters, we give play to the structural inducing effect of lacunary POM fragments, make use of the mixed buffer system for stabilizing the pH-sensitive POM units, and play the auxiliary bridging roles of phosphate, sulfate and carboxylate anions, to construct a variety of POM-based high nuclear TM clusters, Ln-TM mixed clusters. We develop their applications in SMMs, light-driven water oxidation, and construction of nanoscale composite catalysts. (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2015, 137, 5486; Chem. Commun. 2013, 49, 2515; Chem.-Eur. J., 2012, 18, 9184; Inorg. Chem., 2012, 51, 2722; Inorg. Chem., 2009, 48, 1606; Chem. Commun. 2008, 1650)

3. In order to construct the high-efficient, stable and low-price noble-metal-free electrocatalysts for HER, we propose a new strategy that using POMs as the pre-assembling molecular platform to design and construct multiple components, multiple interfaces, and nanoscale composite electrocatalysts. Based on this strategy, we obtained a series of new graphite-like carbon-coated Mo/W-based composite nanocatalysts, exhibiting high efficient HER performance. Some of them even show better HER properties than commercial Pt/C. CoMoP@C displays superior HER performance in direct electrolysis of real seawater. Ru/WNO@C shows remarkable HER performance for co-production of chlor-alkali process. The synergistic catalysis mechanism of the composite catalysts were revealed by experiments and DFT calculation. These work open up a new path for the development of Mo/W-based electrocatalysts with high intrinsic activity. (Energy Environ. Sci., 2017, 10, 788; Energy Environ. Sci., 2018, 11, 2114; Energy Environ. Sci., 2019, 12, 2569; J. Mater. Chem. A., 2016, 4, 3947; ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 2017, 9, 16270; Nanoscale, 2018, 10, 6080)

4. We use noble metal (NM)-containing POMs to reveal the HER mechanism of oxidized platinum at the molecular level, answering the question why oxidized Pt shows more efficient HER performance than metallic Pt. We use structurally well-defined NM-POMs to simulate the Pt single atom electrocatalysts loaded on metal oxide, clarifying the mechanism of synergistic hydrogen evolution between Pt and oxide supports, and revealing the key effects of support components and coordination environments on the Pt single atom catalytic site. (Nature Comm. 2020, 11, 490-1-7; ACS Energy Lett., 2021, 6, 4055)