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Updated: Mar 3, 2026

Developing Photosensitizer-Cobaloxime Hybrids for Solar-Driven H2 Production in Aqueous Aerobic Conditions
Published on: October 5, 2019
H2 evolution by a cobalt selenolate electrocatalyst and related mechanistic studies.
Courtney A Downes1, Joseph W Yoo, Nicholas M Orchanian
1Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA. smarines@usc.edu.
Cobalt complexes with 1,2-benzenediselenolate (bds) act as electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution. Mechanistic studies reveal key intermediates and two pathways (EC, CE) for efficient H2 production.
Area of Science:
- Inorganic Chemistry
- Electrochemistry
- Catalysis
Background:
- Developing efficient electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution is crucial for renewable energy technologies.
- Cobalt complexes are promising candidates due to their earth-abundant nature and tunable properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize cobalt-based electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER).
- To elucidate the catalytic mechanism and identify key intermediates involved in H2 production.
Main Methods:
- Electrochemical synthesis and characterization of the cobalt complex [Co(bds)2][nBu4N].
- Electrocatalytic studies for hydrogen evolution.
- Mechanistic investigations involving acid treatment and spectroscopic analysis.
Main Results:
- [Co(bds)2][nBu4N] demonstrated electrocatalytic activity for the hydrogen evolution reaction.
- A black precipitate formed upon acid treatment, and the one-electron reduced species [Co(bds)2]2- were identified as viable catalytic intermediates.
- Two kinetically competent pathways, EC and CE, were proposed for H2 evolution.
Conclusions:
- The cobalt complex [Co(bds)2][nBu4N] is an effective electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution.
- Understanding the mechanistic pathways (EC and CE) provides insights for designing improved catalysts.
- The identified intermediates are critical for optimizing catalytic performance in HER.
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