Instantaneous formation of polyoxometalate-based cerium vanadium oxide gels

Abstract

The instantaneous formation of mechanically stable cerium vanadium oxide gels starting from soluble polyoxovanadates is reported together with initial application studies. Upon addition of phosphoric acid to solutions containing a vanadium oxide source (e.g. (nBu₄N)₄[V₄O₁₂]) and Ce³⁺, instantaneous formation (reaction time <1 s) of a vanadium oxide gel is observed. The gel shows unique mechanical and thermal stabilities (up to ∼180 °C). High permeability of the gel is observed, allowing its use for long-term acid delivery into aqueous media or for the adsorption of organic aromatic dye pollutants from solution. A range of spectroscopy and electron microscopy techniques provide insight into the gel formation and the gel composition: an intertwined 3D matrix of nanowires (d ∼ 10 nm) containing cerium, vanadium oxide and phosphate is identified as an inorganic matrix which enables the formation of the mechanically stable gel.