Photochemical and gas adsorption studies of Keggin polyoxometalate functionalized porous melamine terephthaldehyde material

A compound containing a microporous melamine-terephthaldehyde framework is protonated by grinding with acetic acid, resulting in a mesoporous protonated melamine-terephthaldehyde network. The Keggin polyanion [PMo12O40]3- is then immobilized into this protonated melamine-terephthaldehyde network through a solid-state reaction. The polyanion interacts with the protonated microporous organic network through electrostatic interaction. Three different Keggin-melamine-terephthaldehyde materials were synthesized by varying the Keggin anion loading of 10 wt%, 15 wt% and 20 wt%. The Keggin-melamine-terephthaldehyde materials exhibit photochromism on irradiation with sunlight. The photochromism of the POM-organic hybrid material is due to reduction of the Keggin anion. The resulting blue reduced Keggin-melamine-terephthaldehyde materials are oxidized back by treatment with hydrogen peroxide. The N2, CO2 and H2 adsorption properties of all the synthesized materials, including protonated melamine-terephthaldehyde materials, were studied. The materials were characterized by IR, PXRD, DRS, TGA, EPR spectroscopy, and FESEM electron microscopy. The elemental composition was analysed with a CHN analyser and ICP-OES analysis.