Synthesis, Characterization, and Catalytic Property of a Hybrid Nanoscale Polyoxoniobate

A nanoscale polyoxoniobate based on trivalent nickel complex and Lindqvist-type cluster, [Ni(en) 3 ] 2 [H 2 Nb 6 O 19 ]·8H 2 O (abbreviated as NEN) (en = ethylenediamine, C 2 H 8 N 2 ) has been synthesized and structurally characterized by elemental analyses, IR spectrum, UV–visible spectra, X-ray photoelectron spectrum (XPS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Structural analysis shows that NEN is an ionic compound, in which the cations are two trivalent nickel complexes [Ni(en) 3 ] 3+ and the anion is a Lindqvist-type polyoxoniobate [Nb 6 O 19 ] 8− cluster. Notably, NEN can catalyze the production of reactive oxygen species efficiently in aqueous solution system.