Bulking Up Water Oxidation: Storing solar energy by water oxidation, in a process akin to photosynthesis, is a promising approach for building a renewable energy infrastructure. Unfortunately, many of the most active synthetic catalysts for this process fall prey to degradation by the generated oxygen. Yin et al. (p. 342 , published online 11 March; see the Perspective by Hurst ) used bulky polyoxometalate ligands to protect a catalytic cobalt center from this fate. The full complex was easily prepared by mixing proper ratios of inexpensive tungsten, cobalt, and phosphate salts in boiling water. After isolating and redissolving the catalyst in slightly basic aqueous solution, rapid oxygen generation was observed with a ruthenium-based oxidant.

The tetraruthenium-substituted polyoxometalate Cs₉[(γ-PW₁₀O₃₆)₂Ru₄O₅(OH)(H₂O)₄] was synthesized and structurally, spectroscopically and electrochemically characterized; it was shown to be a catalyst for visible-light-induced water oxidation.