Mo-substituted Keggin tungstosilicate microtubes: preparation and characterization

The synthesis and characterization of microtubes of SiMoW(11) Keggin polyoxometalates containing either an Mo(V) or Mo(VI) atom is reported. The introduction of a Mo atom into the Keggin-type tungstosilicate microtubes endows them with new properties. The Mo-substituted microtubes may exert both W and Mo functionalities in electrocatalytic reactions and in the immobilization of noble metal nanoparticles. The degree of reduction of the Mo component in the SiMoW(11) microtubes is controllable simply by tuning the amount of reductant present in the mother liquor. Mo-substituted Keggin tungstosilicate microtubes in their reduced state are more stable than the all-tungsten Keggin tungstosilicate heteropoly blue microtubes.