Self-assembly, bifunctional electrocatalytic behavior, and photocatalytic property of host–guest metal-oxide-based coordination polymers

A copper complex modified Mo-oxide hybrid network stabilized by Keggin polyoxoanion, [{Cu(bpy)₂}{Mo₁₂O₃₄(bpy)₁₂}][PMo₁₂O₄₀]₂ (bpy = 2,2 is-bipyridine) (1) has been synthesized via self-assembly of simple starting materials. In 1, six [MoO₄(bpy)] complexes connect in two different corner-sharing modes to form triangles and linear trimer units, which interconnect alternately to form zigzag chains. {Cu(bpy)₂} segments connect the chains into 2-D layers, which are further joined into 3-D supramolecular networks with 1-D channels. The {PMo₁₂PO₄₀} as guest molecules are incorporated into the channels. Compound 1 exhibits bifunctional electrocatalytic behavior for oxidation of ascorbic acid and reduction of H₂O₂, as well as high-efficient degradation ability for typical dye methylene blue under UV light.