Polyoxometalate Chemistry & Giant Molecular Clusters

Our group has made significant contributions to the field of polyoxometalate (POM) chemistry, particularly in the synthesis and characterization of giant molecular clusters. We have worked extensively with Keplerate-type structures, wheel-shaped clusters, and capsule-like architectures. These nanoscale metal-oxide clusters exhibit unique properties including magnetic behavior, catalytic activity, and potential applications in molecular electronics.

Key Achievements: Synthesis of {Mo₇₂Fe₃₀} and {W₇₂Fe₃₀} blackberry-shaped nanoparticles, development of room-temperature solid-state reactions for cluster assembly, and creation of cluster-based functional materials.

Electrocatalytic Water Splitting

We focus on developing efficient and cost-effective electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Our research includes both homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts based on polyoxometalates, transition metal complexes, and MOFs. We have demonstrated that POM-MOF composites can function as robust water oxidation catalysts across wide pH ranges.

Recent Work: Bifunctional electrocatalysts for both HER and OER, development of non-noble metal catalysts, and mechanistic studies using spectroscopic and computational methods.

Metal-Organic Frameworks & Coordination Polymers

Our laboratory designs and synthesizes functional MOFs and coordination polymers with applications in catalysis, gas storage, proton conduction, and sensing. We investigate how ligand flexibility, metal coordination geometry, and supramolecular interactions influence structural diversity and functional properties. Our work includes both fundamental structural studies and application-oriented research.

Focus Areas: Chiral MOFs, defect engineering for enhanced conductivity, MOF-polymer composites for proton exchange membranes, and post-synthetic modification strategies.

Proton Conductive Materials

We are developing advanced proton conductive materials for fuel cell applications and other electrochemical devices. Our research spans from fundamental understanding of proton transport mechanisms to practical device fabrication. We have achieved superprotonic conductivity in several systems including MOFs, POMs, and hybrid materials.

Notable Results: UiO-66 based materials with record-high MOF proton conductivity, POM-driven assembly of conductive hybrid materials, and polymer-MOF composite membranes.

Supramolecular Chemistry & Crystal Engineering

We explore the fundamental principles governing molecular recognition, self-assembly, and crystal packing. Our work includes studies of water clusters in crystalline hydrates, hydrogen bonding networks, and reversible solid-state transformations. We have characterized novel water cluster topologies and demonstrated gas-solid reactions that involve breaking and forming coordination bonds at ambient conditions.

Discoveries: Cyclic and linear water clusters, reversible single-crystal-to-single-crystal transformations, conformational modulation of flexible receptors, and chiral resolution through supramolecular interactions.