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Updated: Feb 8, 2026

Evaluating the Electrochemical Properties of Supercapacitors using the Three-Electrode System
Published on: January 7, 2022
Electrochemical properties and C-H bond oxidation activity of [Ru(tpy)(pyalk)Cl]+ and [Ru(tpy)(pyalk)(OH)]
Christian K Nilles1, Hashini N K Herath, Hanna Fanous
1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, North Dakota State University, PO Box 6050, Fargo, ND 58108-6050, USA. alexander.parent@ndsu.edu.
Abstract:
[Ru(tpy)(pyalk)Cl]Cl (pyalk = 2-(2'-pyridyl)-2-propanol) was synthesized and characterized crystallographically and electrochemically. Upon dissolution in water and acetonitrile, [Ru(tpy)(pyalk)Cl]Cl was found to form [Ru(tpy)(pyalk)Cl]+ and [Ru(tpy)(pyalk)(OH)]+, respectively. The Ru(ii/iii) couple of [Ru(tpy)(pyalk)Cl]+ was found to be relatively low compared to that of other Ru complexes in acetonitrile, but the Ru(iii/iv) couple was not significantly different than other Ru complexes bearing anionic ligands. Pourbaix diagrams were generated for [Ru(tpy)(phpy)(OH2)]+ (phpy = 2-phenylpyridine) and [Ru(tpy)(pyalk)(OH)]+ in water, and it was found that [Ru(tpy)(pyalk)(OH)]+ has a lower Ru(ii/iii) potential than [Ru(tpy)(phpy)(OH2)]+ under neutral to alkaline pH. [Ru(tpy)(pyalk)(OH)]+ was found to catalyze C-H bond hydroxylation of secondary alkanes and epoxidation of alkenes using cerium(iv) ammonium nitrate as the primary oxidant.
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