Electrocatalytic water oxidation by a macrocyclic Cu(ii) complex in neutral phosphate buffer.

Area of Science:

• Electrochemistry
• Catalysis
• Inorganic Chemistry

Background:

• Electrocatalytic water oxidation is crucial for energy conversion technologies.
• Copper-based catalysts are promising for water oxidation but often require optimization.
• Previous dinuclear copper complexes showed moderate activity in neutral aqueous solutions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and evaluate a single-site copper complex for electrocatalytic water oxidation.
• To compare the activity of the new complex with existing copper-based catalysts.
• To investigate the effect of catalyst immobilization on activity.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of the single-site copper complex [Cu(TMC)(H2O)](NO3)2.
• Electrochemical evaluation of the catalyst in neutral aqueous solution.
• Immobilization of the copper complex onto carbon cloth for enhanced performance.

Main Results:

• The single-site copper complex exhibited the highest activity among copper-based catalysts for water oxidation.
• It achieved a significant cathodic shift in potential compared to dinuclear copper complexes.
• Immobilization on carbon cloth substantially boosted catalytic activity, outperforming CuOx and Cu(2+).

Conclusions:

• The single-site copper complex is a highly effective catalyst for electrocatalytic water oxidation.
• Immobilization strategies can significantly enhance the performance of copper-based water oxidation catalysts.
• This research offers a promising avenue for developing efficient and stable water oxidation catalysts.