Polyoxometalates for the decontamination of chemical warfare agents: From structure and composition regulation to performance enhancement

The rampant misuse of chemical warfare agents (CWAs) poses a grave threat to the safety of both military personnel and civilians. Therefore, the effective degradation of CWAs to nontoxic products has emerged as a key area of focus for researchers. Polyoxometalates (POMs) and POM-based composites, with their diverse structures and adjustable acid-base and redox properties, have risen as highly promising candidates for accelerating the decontamination of CWAs and their simulants. In this review, we provide an comprehensive overview of the detection and degradation of CWAs and their simulants using POM-based materials through different pathways (oxidation and hydrolysis). Given the unpredictable nature of the employed CWAs in real-world scenarios, extensive discussions have also been conducted regarding the use of multi-functional POM-based catalysts. Particularly, we thoroughly discuss the design principles and catalytic mechanisms of POM-based catalysts for diverse detoxification pathways. Drawing upon the current advancements in this field, we present an analysis of the existing challenges and future prospects pertaining to the POM-catalyzed decontamination systems. We hope that this review will inspire further exploration of green and sustainable catalysts for the degradation of CWAs.