This collbaration project has been initiated by Professor Tatyana E. Polenova (Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Delaware). It is built on extremely well developed synthetic capabilities of Professor Lynn C. Francesconi (Hunter College) to synthesize polyoxometallic systems. Polyoxometalates (POMs) are very interesting materials and our groups' participation in this collaboration is focused on their spectroscopic characteriazation and catalytic analysis. High pressure - low pressure infrared cell will be built to fit the existing FTIR spectrometer to study the effects of polyoxometallate preparation on the chemisty of oxitation reactions. The majority of these studies involves infrared transmission experiments. However, other surface analytical techniques, such as NEXAFS, XPS, and thermal desorption are also utilized. Besides the experimental investigation, we focus on the theoretical description of the polyoxometallic systems with the help of Dr. Olga Dmitrienko (University of Delaware). Structures similar to the one depicted in figure 1 are studied with respect to thermal and electrovoltaic changes and as potential catalytic systems in oxidation of simple hydrocarbons.