Multinuclear Transition Metal Sandwich-Type Polytungstate Derivatives for Enhanced Electrochemical Energy Storage and Bifunctional Electrocatalysis Performances.

Different transition metal (TM) units are introduced into a trivacant Keggin cluster to form three sandwich polytungstate derivatives, (H2en)[{K(H2O)0.5}2{K2(H2O)3}{Ni(H2O)(en)2}2{Ni4(H2O)2(PW9O34)2}] (1), [Cu6(Himi)6{AsIIIW9O33}2]·5H2O (2), and (H2btp)4[FeIII2FeII2(H2O)2(AsW9 O34)2]·4H2O (3) (en = ethanediamine; imi = imidazole; btp = 1,3-bis(1, 2, 4-triazol-1-yl) propane). Compound 1 is a 2,3,8-connected 3D network with {43}2{46·66·83·612·8}{6}2 topology based on bisupported tetra-Ni sandwich phosphotungstate and two kinds of potassium connection units. Compound 2 is a dense 12-connected 3D supramolecular network with {324·436·56} topology based on hexa-Cu(imi) sandwiched arsenotungstate. Compound 3 represents the first mixed valence tetra-Fe substituted sandwich arsenotungstate assembly. Compounds 1-3 show enhanced supercapacitor performance (618.2, 603.4, and 504.6 F·g-1 at a current density of 2.4 A·g-1 with 91.5%, 89.3%, and 87.8% of cycle efficiency after 5000 cycles, respectively) compared to their maternal polyoxometalates (POMs) and most reported POM-based electrode materials, which suggests that the introduction of multinuclear TM into vacant POMs is an effective method to improve the energy storage performance of POMs. In addition, compounds 1 and 3 exhibit dual-functional electrocatalytic behaviors in the reduction of iodate and the oxidation of dopamine for introduction of {Ni4} and {Fe4} units.