Beyond Charge Balance: Counter‐Cations in Polyoxometalate Chemistry

Polyoxometalates (POMs) are molecular metal-oxide anions applied in energy conversion and storage, manipulation of biomolecules, catalysis, as well as materials design and assembly. Although often overlooked, the interplay of intrinsically anionic POMs with organic and inorganic cations is crucial to control POM self-assembly, stabilization, solubility, and function. Beyond simple alkali metals and ammonium, chemically diverse cations including dendrimers, polyvalent metals, metal complexes, amphiphiles, and alkaloids allow tailoring properties for known applications, and those yet to be discovered. This review provides an overview of fundamental POM-cation interactions in solution, the resulting solid-state…

• UD
  U.S. Department of Energy

  Awards: SC0010802, DE SC0010802
• SF
  Schlumberger Foundation
• DF
  Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

  Awards: STR1164, STR1164/12, TRR234, STR1164/12, TRR234, STR1164/12; TRR234
• UU
  Universität Ulm
• BE
  Basic Energy Sciences

  Award: DE SC0010802