Synthesis and characterization of hybrid materials based on 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ionic liquid and Dawson-type tungstophosphate K7[H4PW18O62]·18H2O and K6[P2W18O62]·13H2O

In this study, we synthesized hybrid materials using well-Dawson polyoxometalates (POMs), K₇[H₄PW₁₈O₆₂]·18H₂O or K₆[P₂W₁₈O₆₂]·13H₂O and a room temperature ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([BMIM][BF₄]). K, W, P and CHN elemental analysis showed that one mole of [H₄PW₁₈O₆₂]⁷⁻ reacts with 6 moles of BMIM⁺ and one mole of [P₂W₁₈O₆₂]⁶⁻ reacts with 4 moles of BMIM⁺ to form, respectively, K[BMIM]₆H₄PW₁₈O₆₂ and K₂[BMIM]₄P₂W₁₈O₆₂. X-ray diffraction illustrated amorphous structure of the hybrid materials. FT-IR spectra showed the presence of both 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium cation and the Dawson anion. TG analysis displayed a relative thermal stability of the hybrid materials compared to the parents Dawson POMs. Cyclic voltammetry showed that the reduction peak potentials of the Dawson anion in the hybrid materials shift towards negative values and the shift is more pronounced for K[BMIM]₆H₄PW₁₈O₆₂ compared to K₂[BMIM]₄P₂W₁₈O₆₂. This was attributed to a decrease in the acidity of the Dawson POM anion in the hybrid material.