Polyoxometalates in the Design of Effective and Tunable Water Oxidation Catalysts

Water oxidation catalysts (WOCs) are of core importance in several green energy production technologies, including water splitting and water reduction of CO2 driven by electrochemical potential and/or photons (radiant energy). General challenges in solar fuel generating structures, WOC design concepts, and some success-limiting considerations in WOC development are described. The first class of WOCs are presented that combine the stability benefits of heterogeneous WOCs with the reactivity and other benefits of homogeneous WOCs.