N-Donor flexible ligands for constructing polyoxometalate-based metal–organic frameworks as multifunctional electrocatalysts

Polyoxometalates (POMs) can participate into metal–organic frameworks to construct POM-based metal–organic frameworks (POMOFs) with excellent redox properties, displaying potential photo- and electrochemical applications. Here, two POMOFs [M 2 (btbu) 4 (H 2 O) 2 (SiW 12 O 40 )] [M = Ni for CUST-631 and Co for CUST-632 ; btbu = 1,4-bis(1,2,4-triazole-1-yl)butane] were synthesized by a hydrothermal method and characterized by PXRD, IR and TG. CUST-631 and CUST-632 are directly prepared as electrode materials (denoted as 631-CPE and 632-CPE) to explore their electrocatalytic properties. The experimental results show that 631-CPE and 632-CPE exhibit good electrocatalytic reduction of BrO 3 − and NO 2 − ions and great oxidation properties towards AA.