Tracking "apolar" NMe4+ ions within two polyoxothiomolybdates that have the same pores: smaller clathrate and larger highly porous clusters in action.

Two nanosized polyoxothiometalates were synthesized based on linking oxomolybdate building blocks with {Mo2O2S2}(2+) groups. Remarkably, both compounds are formed selectively primarily upon changing the related concentrations in a logical way; they exhibit common structural features based on the same {Mo9O6S3}-type pores, which result in connections between {Mo6O21} pentagons and {Mo2O2S2}(2+) linkers. Whereas the much larger spherical Mo132-type Keplerate contains twenty pores, the smaller Mo63 -type cluster remarkably contains only two. The two compounds and a similar Keplerate exhibit interesting supramolecular properties related to interactions with the unusual predominantly apolar NMe4(+) cations. Structural characterization of the Mo63 -type compound reveals in the solid state a clathrate-like species that contains four NMe4(+) cations embedded in two types of structurally well-adapted pockets. Related NMR spectroscopic investigations in solution using NMe4(+) as the NMR spectroscopic probe are in agreement with the solid-state description. (1)H NMR spectroscopic experiments (1D variable-temperature, 2D total correlation spectroscopy (TOCSY), exchange spectroscopy (EXSY), and diffusion-ordered spectroscopy (DOSY)) feature firmly immobilized and mobile NMe4(+) ions in relationship with the type of host-guest arrangements. The use of the (1)H NMR DOSY spectroscopic methodology has been successfully applied to track the interactions of the NMe4(+) cations with the {Mo9O6S3} pores of a sulfurated Keplerate, thereby allowing the first quantitative analysis of this type of plugging process. The stability constant K=(210±20) mol(-1) L is discussed related to the character of the process.

Osmotically driven crystal morphogenesis: a general approach to the fabrication of micrometer-scale tubular architectures based on polyoxometalates.

The process of osmotically driven crystal morphogenesis of polyoxometalate (POM)-based crystals is investigated, whereby the transformation results in the growth of micrometer-scale tubes 10-100 µm in diameter and many thousands of micrometers long. This process initiates when the crystals are immersed in aqueous solutions containing large cations and is governed by the solubility of the parent POM crystal. Evidence is presented that indicates the process is general to all types of POMs, with solubility of the parent crystal being the deciding parameter. A modular approach is adopted since different POM precursor crystals can form tubular architectures with a range of large cationic species, producing an ion-exchanged material that combines the large added cations and the large POM-based anions. It is also shown that the process of morphogenesis is electrostatically driven by the aggregation of anionic metal oxides with the dissolved cations. This leads to the formation of a semi-permeable membrane around the crystal. The osmotically driven ingress of water leads to an increase in pressure, and ultimately rupture of the membrane occurs, allowing a saturated solution of the POM to escape and leading to the formation of a "self-growing" microtube in the presence of the cation. It is demonstrated that the growth process is sustained by the osmotic pressure within the membrane surrounding the parent crystal, as tube growth ceases whenever this pressure is relieved. Not only is the potential of the modular approach revealed by the fact that the microtubes retain the properties of their component parts, but it is also possible to control the direction of growth and tube diameter. In addition, the solubility limits of tube growth are explored and translated into a predictive methodology for the fabrication of tubular architectures with predefined physical properties, opening the way for real applications.

A new oxomolybdate component extracted from the "virtual dynamic library" yielding the macrocyclic anion [(Mo(VI)(8)O(28))(4)(Mo(V)(2)O(2)S(2))(4)](24-).

A rare isomer of the {Mo(8)O(28)}(8-) anion has been trapped from an acidified aqueous solution of molybdate by using the {Mo(2)O(2)S(2)}(2+) oxothio cation as the linker and isolated as a part of a unique macrocyclic anion, which consists of four isopolyoxomolybdate fragments {Mo(8)O(28)} bridged by four {Mo(2)O(2)S(2)} units.

Morphogenesis of polyoxometalate cluster-based materials to microtubular network architectures.

Pressed pellets of polyoxometalate (POM)-based materials are shown to undergo morphogenesis to produce microtubular network architectures without the need for a large single crystal precursor. The compression of the POM material into a pellet lowers the solubility sufficiently to allow tube initiation and growth from POMs that would otherwise be too soluble in their native crystalline state, thus yielding hollow, highly controllable, tubes of diameter 10-100 µm.

Real-time ion-flux imaging in the growth of micrometer-scale structures and membranes.

Real-time ion flux imaging: an ion-sensitive field-effect transistor (ISFET) array is coupled with optical microscopy to image the growth of, and ion flux through, micrometer-scale tubes and membranes built from polyoxometalate clusters. The correlation between the optical and ionic imaging data is excellent, showcasing the use of ISFET arrays for high-resolution spatial and temporal mapping of ionic movements.