International Collaboration in Chemistry: Nanoscaled Molybdenum-Oxide Clusters: Syntheses, Tuning Surface Properties and Counterion Effects

Lehigh大学的Tianbo Liu教授获得了化学部大分子，超分子和纳米化学项目的国际化学合作（ICC）资助，以开发合成新型纳米多孔分子胶囊的合理方法，并研究它们与反离子的复杂相互作用。 将合成具有冠醚类型的特定表面功能的聚氧酸盐簇和具有可调孔径和电荷的各种多孔Keplerate纳米胶囊。 新的胶囊将被用作模型系统，以探索它们与小反离子的相互作用，反离子交换和置换，反离子在Keplerate组件膜上的传输，以及胶囊表面水配体的性质。 这项工作包括与比勒费尔德大学（德国）的Achim Müller教授的国际合作。 Müller教授的工作得到了德国Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft German Research Foundation（DFG）的支持，这项研究将为设计和制备具有催化、电子和磁性的新材料提供重要知识。 合成的胶囊也可以作为生物和仿生过程的模型。 因此，该项目将影响不同的领域（包括化学，生物科学和材料科学）。 此外，这种国际合作为培养学生和博士后研究人员提供了独特的研究环境。

Professor Tianbo Liu of Lehigh University is supported by the Macromolecular, Supramolecular and Nanochemistry Program in the Division of Chemistry for an International Collaboration in Chemistry (ICC) grant to develop rational methods for the synthesis of new type of nanoporous molecular capsules and investigate their complex interaction with counterions. Polyoxometalate clusters with specific surface functionalities of the crown-ether type and a variety of porous Keplerate nanocapsules with tunable pore sizes and charges will be synthesized. The new capsules will be used as model systems to explore their interactions with small counter-ions, counter-ion exchange and replacement, counter-ion transport over the membranes of Keplerate assemblies, and the nature of the surface water ligands on the capsules. This work includes an international collaboration with Professor Achim Müller of the University of Bielefeld (Germany). Professor Müller's work is supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft German Research Foundation (DFG) of Germany.This research will provide important knowledge for the design and preparation of new materials with catalytic, electronic, and magnetic properties. The capsules synthesized may also serve as models for biological and bio-mimetic processes. This project will, therefore, impact diverse areas (including chemistry, biological science, and materials science). Furthermore, this international collaboration provides unique research environments for training students and postdoctoral researchers.