Locking volatile organic molecules by subnanometer inorganic nanowire-based organogels

The intermolecular forces among volatile organic molecules are usually weaker than water, making them more difficult to absorb. We prepared alkaline earth cations–bridged polyoxometalate nanoclusters subnanometer nanowires through a facile room-temperature reaction. The nanowires can form three-dimensional networks, trapping more than 10 kinds of volatile organic liquids effectively with the mass fraction of nanowires as low as 0.53%. A series of freestanding, elastic, and stable organogels were obtained. We prepared gels that encapsulate organic liquids at the kilogram scale. Through removing solvents in gels by means of distillation and centrifugation, the nanowires can be recycled more than 10 times. This method could be applied to the effective trapping and recovery of organic liquids.