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Spontaneous Stepwise Self‐Assembly of a Polyoxometalate–Organic Hybrid into Catalytically Active One‐Dimensional Anisotropic Structures
Author(s) -
Yin Panchao,
Bayaguud Aruuhan,
Cheng Peng,
Haso Fadi,
Hu Lang,
Wang Joy,
Vezenov Dmitri,
Winans Randall E.,
Hao Jian,
Li Tao,
Wei Yongge,
Liu Tianbo
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.201402974
Subject(s) - polyoxometalate , micelle , hydrogen bond , counterion , aqueous solution , self assembly , crystallization , electrostatics , hydrophobic effect , chemical engineering , chemistry , chemical physics , non covalent interactions , supramolecular chemistry , nucleation , pulmonary surfactant , materials science , catalysis , nanotechnology , crystallography , organic chemistry , molecule , crystal structure , ion , engineering
An inorganic–organic hybrid surfactant with a hexavanadate cluster as the polar head group was designed and observed to assemble into micelle structures, which further spontaneously coagulate into a 1D anisotropic structure in aqueous solutions. Such a hierarchical self‐assembly process is driven by the cooperation of varied noncovalent interactions, including hydrophobic, electrostatic, and hydrogen‐bonding interactions. The hydrophobic interaction drives the quick formation of the micelle structure; electrostatic interactions involving counterions leads to the further coagulation of the micelles into larger assemblies. This process is similar to the crystallization process, but the specific counterions and the directional hydrogen bonding lead to the 1D growth of the final assemblies. Since most of the hexavanadates are exposed to the surface, the 1D assembly with nanoscale thickness is a highly efficient heterogeneous catalyst for the oxidation of organic sulfides with appreciable recyclability.