Ce(III) containing tricobalt-substituted silico-tungstate [CeCo3Si2W20O74(NO3)(OH)(H2O)]13-: A versatile nano-cluster with a multitude of applications

Abstract

In this work, we report a structurally distinct cerium-containing tricobalt-substituted Keggin-type silico-tungstate [CeCo3Si2W20O74(NO3)(OH)(H2O)] 13-. In addition to the Ce-based complex (2a), we have also isolated structures including other early lanthanoids consisting of La (1a), Pr (3a), and Nd (4a). The polyoxotungstates were synthesised by reacting Na10[A-α-SiW9O34].16H2O with Ln(NO3)3.nH2O in potassium chloride at 80 °C for 1 hr. Later, the solution was left to evaporate in a cool, dark place, and undisturbed. The solid crystalline material polytungstates were further structurally characterised by SC-XRD, FT-IR, TGA, UV/Vis spectroscopy and electrochemistry. The single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and FT-IR spectra suggest that the compounds are isostructural. The synthesised polyanionic compounds exhibited significant catalytic activity in two distinct applications: Dye degradation and the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER). Furthermore, the anticancer activity was also assessed against human alveolar cells.