Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

What is an Electrochemical Gradient?

What is an Electrochemical Gradient?

Adenosine triphosphate, or ATP, is considered the primary energy source in cells. However, energy can also be stored in the electrochemical gradient of an ion across the plasma membrane, which is determined by two factors: its chemical and electrical gradients.
The chemical gradient relies on differences in the abundance of a substance on the outside versus the inside of a cell and flows from areas of high to low ion concentration. In contrast, the electrical gradient revolves around an...

Pyruvate Oxidation

Pyruvate Oxidation

After glycolysis, the charged pyruvate molecules enter the mitochondria via active transport and undergo three enzymatic reactions. These reactions ensure that pyruvate can enter the next metabolic pathway so that energy stored in the pyruvate molecules can be harnessed by the cells.
First, the enzyme pyruvate dehydrogenase removes the carboxyl group from pyruvate and releases it as carbon dioxide. The stripped molecule is then oxidized and releases electrons, which are then picked up by NAD+...

Oxidation Numbers

Oxidation Numbers

In redox reactions, the transfer of electrons occurs between reacting species. Electron transfer is described by a hypothetical number called the oxidation number (or oxidation state). It represents the effective charge of an atom or element, which is assigned using a set of rules.

Oxidation-Reduction Reactions

Oxidation-Reduction Reactions

Oxidation–Reduction Reactions

States of Water

States of Water

Water exists in any one of the three classical states: solid (ice), liquid (water), and gas (steam or water vapor). The state of water depends on i) the intermolecular forces that draw molecules together and ii) the kinetic energy that leads to movements that pull them apart.
Water freezes when the intermolecular forces are greater than the kinetic energy. Unlike most other substances, water is less dense in its solid state than in its liquid state. This is because each water molecule can form...

Formation of Complex Ions

Formation of Complex Ions

A type of Lewis acid-base chemistry involves the formation of a complex ion (or a coordination complex) comprising a central atom, typically a transition metal cation, surrounded by ions or molecules called ligands. These ligands can be neutral molecules like H2O or NH3, or ions such as CN− or OH−. Often, the ligands act as Lewis bases, donating a pair of electrons to the central atom. These types of Lewis acid-base reactions are examples of a broad subdiscipline called coordination...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer in Coordination Chemistry.

Inorganic chemistry·2026

Same author

Synthesis and Electrochemistry of Formazan(ate) Re(I) Complexes: Ligand-Based Reactivity toward CO<sub>2</sub>.

Inorganic chemistry·2025

Same author

Oxidatively Induced Reductive N<sub>2</sub> Binding: A Dinickel-Bridging Bent N<sub>2</sub> Radical Anion and Its Redox-Triggered N<sub>2</sub> Release.

Journal of the American Chemical Society·2025

Same author

Mechanistic Studies of the Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer Reactivity of a Cobalt Complex with a Proton-Responsive PNP Pincer-Type Ligand.

Inorganic chemistry·2025

Same author

Identification of Ti(salen) Complexes for Efficient Catalysis in Single-Electron Steps by Cyclic Voltammetry.

Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)·2025

Same author

Reductive Carbon Materials: Tailoring Chemistry and Electronic Properties to Improve Sodium-Ion Batteries.

Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 8, 2026

Author Spotlight: Metallic Nanocomposites to Eliminate Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria

Author Spotlight: Metallic Nanocomposites to Eliminate Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria

Published on: October 4, 2024

Electrochemical water oxidation using a copper complex.

Sebastian Nestke¹, Emanuel Ronge², Inke Siewert¹

¹Universität Göttingen, Institut für Anorganische Chemie, Tammannstr. 4, 37077 Göttingen, Germany. inke.siewert@chemie.uni-goettingen.de.

Dalton Transactions (Cambridge, England : 2003)

|June 29, 2018

Summary

This study introduces a copper complex for electrochemical water oxidation catalysis. The complex requires basic conditions and a negatively charged ligand to efficiently produce oxygen.

More Related Videos

Iridium Oxide-reduced Graphene Oxide Nanohybrid Thin Film Modified Screen-printed Electrodes as Disposable Electrochemical Paper Microfluidic pH Sensors

Iridium Oxide-reduced Graphene Oxide Nanohybrid Thin Film Modified Screen-printed Electrodes as Disposable Electrochemical Paper Microfluidic pH Sensors

Published on: November 22, 2016

Fabrication of Spatially Confined Complex Oxides

Fabrication of Spatially Confined Complex Oxides

Published on: July 1, 2013

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Feb 8, 2026

Author Spotlight: Metallic Nanocomposites to Eliminate Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria

Author Spotlight: Metallic Nanocomposites to Eliminate Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria

Published on: October 4, 2024

Iridium Oxide-reduced Graphene Oxide Nanohybrid Thin Film Modified Screen-printed Electrodes as Disposable Electrochemical Paper Microfluidic pH Sensors

Iridium Oxide-reduced Graphene Oxide Nanohybrid Thin Film Modified Screen-printed Electrodes as Disposable Electrochemical Paper Microfluidic pH Sensors

Published on: November 22, 2016

Fabrication of Spatially Confined Complex Oxides

Fabrication of Spatially Confined Complex Oxides

Published on: July 1, 2013

Area of Science:

Inorganic Chemistry
Electrochemistry
Catalysis

Background:

Electrochemical water oxidation is crucial for renewable energy technologies.
Developing efficient and robust catalysts is a key challenge.
Copper complexes offer a promising alternative to precious metal catalysts.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the application of a mononuclear copper complex in electrochemical water oxidation.
To elucidate the catalytic mechanism and identify key intermediates.
To understand the role of pH and ligand environment in catalysis.

Main Methods:

Synthesis and characterization of the mononuclear copper complex [Cu^II(L)]²⁺.
Electrochemical studies including cyclic voltammetry and electrolysis.
Spectroscopic analysis to probe reaction intermediates.
pH-dependent studies to determine reaction conditions.

Main Results:

The copper complex demonstrated moderate catalytic activity with a rate constant of 0.12 s^-1 at an overpotential of 0.83 V.
Catalysis was found to be dependent on basic conditions, requiring a negatively charged species [Cu^II(L)(OH)]⁺.
Evidence suggests a water nucleophilic attack mechanism involving proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) steps.
The electrolyte's role as a proton acceptor was indicated by buffer-dependent onset potentials.

Conclusions:

The mononuclear copper complex is an effective catalyst for electrochemical water oxidation.
Basic conditions and negatively charged ligands are essential for efficient catalysis.
The mechanism involves PCET and a water nucleophilic attack pathway.
Further optimization of catalyst design and reaction conditions is warranted.