Assembly of modular asymmetric organic-inorganic polyoxometalate hybrids into anisotropic nanostructures.

Three organic-inorganic hybrid Mn-Anderson polyoxometalates (POMs), with both symmetrical and asymmetrical appended groups, have been synthesized, identified using electrospray mass spectrometry, and isolated using an approach that allows the three AA, BB, and AB compounds to be structurally characterized. Investigation of the self-assembly of the hybrids on hydrophilic surfaces reveals the formation of nanofibres with characteristics that reflect the nature of the substitution of the POM yielding a route to the programmed assembly of anisotropic hybrid nanostructures.