(293d) Heterogeneous Molecular Catalysts for Electrocatalytic Applications

Heterogeneous molecular catalysts based on transition metal complexes supported on conductive substrate have received increasing attention for their potential application in electrochemical energy conversion. In this talk I will report some progress made in our lab in this area. In one demonstration of heterogeneous molecular catalyst system based on Ni²⁺, we found for the first time that the presence of Fe³⁺ ions in the solution could bond at the vicinity of the Ni sites, generating heterogeneous Ni-Fe dual sites anchored on doped graphene. These Ni-Fe sites exhibited drastically improved oxygen evolution activity. Using CO₂ reduction on well-defined molecular catalysts as a probe, we also demonstrated the importance of axial ligand and relay molecule in improving interfacial electron transfer and subsequent electrocatalytic activity.