Polyoxometalate-based crystalline tubular microreactor: redox-active inorganic–organic hybrid materials producing gold nanoparticles and catalytic properties

Abstract

Here, we synthesize a novel polyoxometalate-based crystalline tubular inorganic–organic compound, Mn[Zn(im)]₂{[Na(H₂O)]₂[Mn(H₂O)₂][Zn(im)₂][P₄Mo₆O₃₁H₆]₂}·8H₂O (IFMC-100) (im and IFMC correspond to imidazole and Institute of Functional Material Chemistry, respectively). Au-anchored tubular microreactor, Au@IFMC-100, has been prepared by simple immersion of IFMC-100 in an ethanol solution of HAuCl₄ without any extra reducing agents, photochemical and electrochemical auxiliaries. Furthermore, IFMC-100 and Au@IFMC-100 have been employed as catalysts for the reduction of K₃Fe(CN)₆ and 4-nitrophenol with NaBH₄ in aqueous solution, respectively. The results indicate the as-prepared Au@IFMC-100 microtubes exhibit enhanced catalytic performance in redox catalysis.