Improving singlet oxygen resistance during photochemical water oxidation by cobalt porphyrin catalysts

Enabling the production of solar fuels on a global scale through artificial photosynthesis requires the development of water oxidation catalysts with significantly improved stability. The stability of photosystems is often reduced owing to attack by singlet oxygen, which is produced during light harvesting. Here, we report photochemical water oxidation by CoFPS, a fluorinated Co-porphyrin designed to resist attack by singlet oxygen. CoFPS exhibits significantly improved stability relative to its non-fluorinated analogue, as shown by a large increase in turnover numbers. This increased stability results from resistance of CoFPS to attack by singlet oxygen, the formation of which was monitored in situ by using 9,10-diphenylanthracene as a chemical probe. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) confirms that CoFPS remains homogeneous, proving its stability during water oxidation catalysis.