Covalently-linked polyoxometalate–polymer hybrids: optimizing synthesis, appealing structures and prospective applications

Abstract

Polyoxometalates (POMs) are a class of polyanions that have fixed metal–oxygen frameworks composed of early transition metals in high oxidation states (most commonly V^V, Mo^VI and W^VI). The diversity in composition and configuration endows POMs with fascinating chemical and physical properties, as well as prospective applications in photochromic or electrochromic materials, catalysts, nano-structural materials, medicines and so on. In order to develop more advanced materials based on POMs, a lot of effort has been devoted to the exploration of new types of POMs and combining POMs with other functional units through non-covalent modifications or covalent bonding. Among these delicate studies, integrating inorganic POMs with organic polymers into diverse hybrids through covalent linking is a quite interesting field. We present here a perspective review on the synthesis of POM–polymer hybrids (PPHs) based on covalent modifications, their hierarchical structures and potential applications.