Complex phase transitions and phase engineering in the aqueous solution of an isopolyoxometalate cluster.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 37179336.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41467-023-38455-z and PMC identifier 10183013.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
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.