Advances in Polyoxometalate-Based Catalysts for Catalytic Decontamination of Nerve Agents

Polyoxometalates (POMs), a class of discrete metal-oxo clusters with diverse structures and properties, are used in energy, biology, catalysis, and sensing applications, as well as in material design and assembly. POM-based catalysts, which have adjustable compositions and abundant available structures, have useful characteristics, such as having a tunable acid-base, being redox stable, being recyclable, and having sustainable features. Nerve agents are a type of chemical warfare agent (CWA) which are easily available and pose threats to human security and the environment. POM-based catalysts can be used in the catalytic decontamination of nerve agents. This review provides a basic introduction to the catalytic decontamination of nerve agents by POM-based catalysts that are classified according to the methods used for the catalytic degradation of the nerve agents. This review summarizes the breakthroughs in the development of POM-based catalysts for the degradation of CWAs over the past decade and discusses the benefits, challenges, and opportunities in the use of POM-based catalysts for the catalytic decontamination of nerve agents.