Stabilization and activation of polyoxometalate over poly(vinyl butylimidazolium) cations towards electrocatalytic water oxidation in alkaline media.

Sandwich polyoxometalate [WCo 3 (H 2 O) 2 (CoW 9 O 34 ) 2 ] 12- (Co-WCo 3 ) heterogenized with poly(vinyl butyl imidazolium) cations (PVIM + ) acts as a stable electrochemical water oxidation catalyst in 1 M KOH with 0.28 V@10 mA cm -2 overpotential and TOF of 6.16 s -1 . Various in situ spectroelectrochemical studies and control experiments provide the details of the catalytic activities and long-term stability of the catalyst.