Synthesis and characterization of {Mo72Fe30}-coated large hexagonal gibbsite gamma-Al(OH)(3) platelets

The polyoxometalates or POMs (clusters comprising at least two metal and many oxygen atoms) have recently gained significant interest owing to their versatile architecture and especially their catalytic activities. Due to their high catalytic activity but low surface area, there is always a demand for making high surface area POMs. This work demonstrates the attachment of the anionic {Mo72Fe30} POMs to gibbsite nanoplatelets with a residual positive charge to form large surface area composites. The resulting composite reported here has been characterized using cryo-TEM imaging, EDX/STEM (elemental) analysis, ATR-IR spectroscopy, SAXS, electrophoretic mobility determination and XRD. The composite reported here could find application in catalysis.