A series
of stable reduction–oxidation states of the cagelike
[I@VIV
x
VV
18–x
O42]5–x
polyoxovanadate (POV) with x = 8, 10, 12, 16, and
18 were studied with density functional theory and molecular dynamics
to gain insight into the structural and electron distribution characteristics
of these metal–oxo clusters and to analyze the charge/redox-dependent
assemblage processes in water and acetonitrile (MeCN) solutions. The
calculations show that the interplay between the POV redox state (molecular
charge) and the solvent polarity, countercation size, and hydrophilicity
(or hydrophobicity) controls the POV agglomeration phenomena, which
substantially differ between aqueous and MeCN media. In MeCN, agglomeration
is more pronounced for intermediate-charged POVs, whereas in water,
the lowest-charged POVs and organic countercations tend to agglomerate
into a microphase. Tests made on wet MeCN show diminished agglomeration
with respect to pure MeCN. Simulations with alkali countercations
in water show that only the highest-charged POV can form agglomerates.
The herein presented theoretical investigation aims to support experimental
studies of POVs in the field of functional nanomaterials and surfaces,
where controlled molecular deposition from the liquid phase onto solid substrates requires
knowledge about the features of these metal–oxo clusters in
discrete solutions.