A new organic-inorganic nano hybrid based on borotungstic anion and imidazole ring as a two-functional green catalyst

Abstract

A new organic-inorganic hybrid consisting of Keggin-type polyoxometalate ([BW12O40]5-) and imidazole, namely [H5O2][imi]4 [BW12O40]·nH2O (imi = Imidazole) (1), has been created under reflux state and identified through material identification devices like single crystal crystallography, FT-IR and 1H NMR spectroscopies, powder XRD, TG-DT Analysis, field emission SEM, elemental-analysis and cyclic voltammetry. Crystallography investigation exhibits that two main factors which are the numerous number of hydrogen bonding between organic and inorganic species and π-π stacking interaction between two adjacent imidazole rings a have crucial role in 1 formation. In addition, three types of imidazole exist in 1 structure in terms of different kind of hydrogen bonding among [BW12O40]5- clusters and imidazole cations. Furthermore, the electrochemical and photochemical attributes of 1 have been considered, and the outcomes present that compound owns privileged electrocatalytic activity against the reduction of nitrite ions as well as an appropriate photochemical effect on methylene blue (MB) dye depredation. Because of the use of catalyst 1 in the form of modified carbon paste electrode (MCPE) to reduce nitrite ions, and of course its ability to recover and reuse repeatedly in the degradation of MB, this catalyst can be classified in green chemistry domain.