"Developments in non-aqueous polyoxometalate chemistry: from solution speciation to catalysis"

A Departmental Research Seminar
L4, Science Concourse, 13:00 Wednesday, 27 November 2024

Join us afterwards at the Festive Research Showcase on the Science Concourse for seasonal refreshments.

Abstract

The remarkable versatility of transition metal polyoxometalates (POMs) arising from the wide range of accessible structures and compositions coupled with Lewis/Brønsted acid/base and redox properties provides a platform for molecular studies of metal oxide reactivity in solution. In seeking to introduce targeted, tuneable reactivity, we developed non-aqueous approaches to the rational synthesis of heterometal-substituted structures by exploiting the hydrolytic sensitivity of metal alkoxides.

Studies have been expanded to incorporate metals from across the periodic table, enabling systematic, comparative studies of homologous structures, and results will be presented from experimental and computational studies of proton- and electron-transfer as well as examples of catalytic applications. Recent solvent-free approaches will be illustrated by the mechanochemical reduction of POMs with Li metal to give deeply reduced species that are relevant to battery materials.

Dr John Errington | School of Natural and Environmental Sciences | Newcastle University