Phosphomolybdic acid directed phosphomolybdic acid directed assembly of MoO x into all-inorganic dendrimer-like flexible superstructures.

A one-step hydrothermal strategy is reported for the synthesis of dendrimer-like all-inorganic phosphomolybdic acid molybdenum oxide (PMO) superstructures assembled from phosphomolybdic acid clusters and MoO x nuclei. Hierarchical organization of primary clusters into bead-like intermediates and subsequently into three-dimensional branched networks was confirmed by TEM, SEM, and STEM-EDS analyses, revealing uniform morphology and homogeneous elemental distribution. Control experiments highlight the critical role of phosphomolybdic acid in directing anisotropic assembly. The resulting material exhibits a distinct and tunable UV-vis response toward Pb2+ ions, demonstrating its potential as a colorimetric sensing platform. This work introduces a modular biomimetic route to complex inorganic architectures, opening new avenues for the design of advanced functional materials.