Department (s)
Department of Organic and Inorganic Chemistry

Members

Beñat Artetxe, Santiago Reinoso, Leire San Felices, Estibaliz Ruiz-Bilbao, Leticia Fernández-Navarro, Ángela Barros, Celia Elicegui

Keywords

Polyoxometalates, hybrid structures, functional materials

Description

Polyoxometalates (POMs) are a well-known class of metal–oxo anionic clusters that encompasses species with a large variety of shapes and compositions, as well as applications in fields of current technological, economic, and environmental interest (e.g., catalysis, medicine, energy, materials science). The use of POM frameworks as multidentate O-donor ligands to incorporate either functional organic moieties or additional 3d- or 4f-metal centers in the inorganic skeleton represents a powerful tool to design new architectures with remarkable properties. Owing to their interesting features (high solution and thermal stability, high acidity, versatile redox properties), POMs are ideal candidates to be incorporated as active groups in the formation of advanced functional materials. 

Lines of Research

1. 3d/4f METAL CONTAINING POM ASSEMBLIES. Our POMs act as photoluminescent systems and selective heterogeneous catalysts. Some of them also display the ability to self-assemble in diluted aqueous solutions into hollow and spherical blackberry-type structures. 
2. ORGANIC DERIVATIZATION OF POMs. This constitutes a key factor for the clusters to be suitably incorporated into functional materials. The synergy between both organic and inorganic components has resulted in photoactive materials or single-ion magnets among others.
3. MULTIFUNCTIONAL OPEN FRAMEWORK STRUCTURES. The use of first-row transition metal complexes of macrocyclic polyamines in combination with POMs leads to open hybrid frameworks with interesting functionalities such as selective adsorption of gases and remarkable activity as heterogenous catalyst. This family of compounds have also shown the ability to respond to external stimuli via single-crystal-to-single-crystal structural transformations.
4. SMART SURFACES. The final goal of this research will be the design of novel polymer/polyoxometalate smart hybrid coatings with a broad scope of potential applications. 

Equipment

• Synthesis: Programmable oven; vacuum line; UV ORIEL (500 W) mercury vapor lamp for photochemistry; ADVANTEST R6142DC current generator for electrochemistry. 
• Characterization: FTIR Shimadzu 8400S TGA/SDTA 851 thermobalance.

Website link

Contact

juanma.zorrilla@ehu.es