Exceptional photosensitivity of a polyoxometalate-based charge-transfer hybrid material

An unusual room-temperature light sensitivity was realized in a polyoxometalate-based hybrid material due to cooperative multicomponent molecular charge-transfer interactions taking place in this material, mainly among POMs, NDIs, and other molecules. The functional π-acidic NDI linkers and POM clusters in the discussed hybrid material were individually designed as photosensors and electron reservoirs. To propose a photo-induced charge-transfer mechanism, EPR, XPS, UV-Vis and computational studies were carried out, and indicated the presence of active charge-transfer interactions among several of the components.