Researchers pursuing the development of third-generation solar cells, which typically include quantum dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs), dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), perovskite solar cells (PSCs), and organic solar cells (OSCs), continue to prioritize low cost, simple preparation, high efficiency, and stability. Polyoxometalates (POMs) are a class of inorganic anionic metallic oxygen cluster compounds with abundant charge, skeleton structure, and excellent physical and chemical properties, such as strong electron acceptability, adjustable energy band structure, and reversible multi-electron redox properties. They are also inexpensive and environmentally friendly. Owing to these exceptional characteristics, POMs are used as building blocks for synthesizing other nanomaterials. Notably, leveraging the extraordinary characteristics of POMs to reduce costs and improve the efficiency and stability of solar cells is an effective strategy for addressing the current energy crisis. In this review, we summarize the research progress of various POM molecules and their derived POM-based nanomaterials in enhancing the performance of third-generation solar cells. Promising development prospects of POMs in the field of photovoltaic devices are also highlighted.

Both polyoxometalates (POMs) and metalloporphyrins exhibit high Arial. 9 efficiency. In this work, we designed two new composite catalysts with [5,10,15,20-tetra-(4-carboxylphenyl)-porphyrinato]-ferric chloride (FeTCPP) and H₃PW₁₂O₄₀ (PW₁₂)/H₃PMo₁₂O₄₀ (PMo₁₂), forming FeTCPP-PW₁₂ and FeTCPP-PMo₁₂ composite catalysts. The diameter of the catalyst particles was controlled by varying the dosage of the two reactants. The synthesis method of the catalysts is simple to operate and it can be obtained by ordinary precipitation after dissolution. Furthermore, the catalysts exhibited satisfactory activity and stability under the condition of repetitive tests. Our findings showed that phenol was almost completely degraded in 10 min under photocatalytic conditions catalyzed by the FeTCPP-PMo₁₂ photocatalyst. This work provides new concepts for developing new types of materials for environmental applications.