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Abstract To explore the structure–function relationships of cobalt complexes in the catalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), we studied the substitution of a tertiary amine with a softer pyridine group and the inclusion of a conjugated bpy unit in a Co complex with a new pentadentate ligand, 6‐[6‐(1,1‐di‐pyridin‐2‐yl‐ethyl)‐pyridin‐2‐ylmethyl]‐[2,2′]bipyridinyl (Py3Me‐Bpy). These modifications resulted in significantly improved stability and activity in both electro‐ and photocatalytic HER in neutral water. [Co(Py3Me‐Bpy)(OH2)](PF6)2catalyzes the electrolytic HER at −1.3 V (vs. SHE) for 20 hours with a turnover number (TON) of 266 300, and photolytic HER for two days with a TON of 15 000 in pH 7 aqueous solutions. The softer ligand scaffold possibly provides increased stability towards the intermediate CoIspecies. DFT calculations demonstrate that HER occurs through a general electron transfer/proton transfer/electron transfer/proton transfer pathway, with H2released from the protonation of CoII−H species.
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Electrochemistry of Polymeric Cobaloxime-Containing Assemblies in Organic and Aqueous Solvents
We report on the structural and electrochemical properties of a heterogeneous-homogeneous assembly composed of molecular cobaloxime catalysts immobilized onto graphite electrodes via an intervening polyvinylpyridine surface coating. When these modified electrodes are immersed in an organic solvent (propylene carbonate containing 0.1 M tetrabutylammonium perchlorate as a supporting electrolyte) or basic aqueous solutions (0.1 M NaOH), cyclic voltammetry measurements enable determination of the CoIII/IIpeak potentials and CoII/Imidpoint potentials of cobaloximes embedded within the polymeric architectures. Additionally, voltammetry measurements recorded using pH neutral aqueous solutions (0.1 M phosphate buffer) confirm the immobilized cobaloximes remain catalytically active for hydrogen production and operate at a turnover frequency of 1.6 s−1when polarized at –0.35 V vs the H+/H2equilibrium potential. Waveform analysis of redox features associated with immobilized cobaloximes indicates more repulsive interactions within the polymer film at pH neutral vs basic conditions, which is attributed to the increased fraction of pyridinium species at lower pH values. Our measurements also show the number of electrochemically active sites changes when measured in different solvent environments, indicating that electroactive loadings determined under non-catalytic solvent conditions are not necessarily representative of those under catalytic conditions and could thereby lead to misrepresentations of catalytic turnover frequencies.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1653982
- PAR ID:
- 10303655
- Publisher / Repository:
- The Electrochemical Society
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- ECS Journal of Solid State Science and Technology
- Volume:
- 9
- Issue:
- 6
- ISSN:
- 2162-8769
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- Article No. 061018
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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