Volume 64, Issue 24 e202424745
Communication

Sprayed Microdroplets Architect a Polyoxometalate Framework

Abhijit Nandy

Abhijit Nandy

Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Tirupati, Tirupati, 517619 India

Search for more papers by this author
Gajiram Murmu

Gajiram Murmu

Materials Chemistry Department, CSIR-Institute of Minerals & Materials Technology, Bhubaneswar, 751013 India

Search for more papers by this author
Anitesh Rana

Anitesh Rana

Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Tirupati, Tirupati, 517619 India

Search for more papers by this author
Sumit Saha

Corresponding Author

Sumit Saha

Materials Chemistry Department, CSIR-Institute of Minerals & Materials Technology, Bhubaneswar, 751013 India

E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]

Search for more papers by this author
Shibdas Banerjee

Corresponding Author

Shibdas Banerjee

Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Tirupati, Tirupati, 517619 India

E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]

Search for more papers by this author
First published: 08 April 2025
Citations: 1

Graphical Abstract

Micron-sized droplets promote rapid nucleation of metal-oxo clusters, forming polyoxometalates within sub-millisecond timescales, an outcome unattainable in the bulk phase under similar conditions, while avoiding the traditional use of corrosive chemicals, acids, and heat.

Abstract

Although many past attempts have utilized micron-sized droplets for breaking and forming organic bonds, their potential in promoting inorganic bond formation reactions remains largely unexplored. We report a promising approach to synthesizing a tungsten-based Lindqvist-type polyoxometalate (POM) in various organic and aqueous microdroplets under ambient conditions, eliminating the traditional need for hazardous or corrosive chemicals and high-boiling solvents. When aerosolized, a simple tungstate (WO42−) solution spontaneously produces a metal-oxo cluster (W6O192−), a valuable POM with broad applications, achieving yields up to 99% in less than a millisecond. Mass spectrometric detection of reactive intermediates unraveled the nucleation mechanism in microdroplets, leading to the formation of polyoxotungstate, which was then further characterized by X-ray crystallography. Empirical observations collectively suggest that rapid solvent evaporation and subsequent enrichment of reactants in the confined volume of microdroplets likely facilitate the growth of the POM through partial solvation at the air–liquid interface.

Conflict of Interests

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Data Availability Statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available in the supplementary material of this article.

The full text of this article hosted at iucr.org is unavailable due to technical difficulties.