From confined growth to enhanced peroxidase-like activity: Nucleation of a phosphate-mediated Fe <sup>III</sup>–Ce <sup>III</sup>–oxo cluster inside the {P <sub>8</sub>W <sub>48</sub>} nanoreactor
Hong-Xin Sheng, Bo-Yang Lin, Chao‐Qin Chen, Jing Du, Peng Yang
Abstract
Novel structures of polyoxometalates might be obtained once the freedom of synthons is restricted in a specific nanospace. This is exactly what the confined synthetic method can do and skilled in. Within the cavity of {P<sub>8</sub>W<sub>48</sub>}, herein, the nucleation of an unprecedented, multi-component cluster of {Fe<sup>III</sup><sub>8</sub>Ce<sup>III</sup><sub>4</sub>O<sub>2</sub>(OH)<sub>12</sub>(H<sub>2</sub>O)<sub>8</sub>(PO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub>} that made up of both the cationic Fe<sup>III</sup> and Ce<sup>III</sup> heterometals as well as the PO<sub>4</sub><sup>3</sup><sup>–</sup> oxyanions was succeeded for the first time. Aside from the focus on the structure and composition of such host–guest assembly, the enhanced peroxidase-like activity brought by the Fenton-active metallic species was investigated systematically. Preliminary studies on the availability of the [{Fe<sup>III</sup><sub>8</sub>Ce<sup>III</sup><sub>4</sub>O<sub>2</sub>(OH)<sub>12</sub>(H<sub>2</sub>O)<sub>8</sub>(PO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub>}(P<sub>8</sub>W<sub>48</sub>O<sub>184</sub>)]<sup>26–</sup>-based colorimetric sensor received satisfactory results, showcasing the detection for ascorbic acid of high sensitivity and selectivity.