Complex phase transitions and phase engineering in the aqueous solution of an isopolyoxometalate cluster

Zhi-Da Wang, Song Liang, Yuqing Yang, Zhen-Ning Liu, Xiao-Zheng Duan (), Xinpei Li, Tianbo Liu () and Hong-Ying Zang ()
Additional contact information
Zhi-Da Wang: Northeast Normal University
Song Liang: Jilin University
Yuqing Yang: The University of Akron
Zhen-Ning Liu: Jilin University
Xiao-Zheng Duan: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Xinpei Li: South China University of Technology
Tianbo Liu: The University of Akron
Hong-Ying Zang: Northeast Normal University

Nature Communications, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-7

Abstract: Abstract Inorganic salts usually demonstrate simple phasal behaviors in dilute aqueous solution mainly involving soluble (homogeneous) and insoluble (macrophase separation) scenarios. Herein, we report the discovery of complex phase behavior involving multiple phase transitions of clear solution – macrophase separation – gelation – solution – macrophase separation in the dilute aqueous solutions of a structurally well-defined molecular cluster [Mo7O24]6− macroanions with the continuous addition of Fe3+. No chemical reaction was involved. The transitions are closely related to the strong electrostatic interaction between [Mo7O24]6− and their Fe3+ counterions, the counterion-mediated attraction and the consequent charge inversion, leading to the formation of linear/branched supramolecular structures, as confirmed by experimental results and molecular dynamics simulations. The rich phase behavior demonstrated by the inorganic cluster [Mo7O24]6− expands our understanding of nanoscale ions in solution.

Date: 2023
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-38455-z Abstract (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-38455-z

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
https://www.nature.com/ncomms/

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38455-z

Access Statistics for this article

Nature Communications is currently edited by Nathalie Le Bot, Enda Bergin and Fiona Gillespie

More articles in Nature Communications from Nature
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().