Work

Anodic deposition of a robust iridium-based water-oxidation catalyst from organometallic precursors

Year: 2010

Type: article

Abstract: Artificial photosynthesis, modeled on natural light-driven oxidation of water in Photosystem II, holds promise as a sustainable source of reducing equivalents for producing fuels. Few robust water-oxidation catalysts capable of mediating this difficult four-electron, four-proton reaction have yet been described. We report a new method for generating an amorphous electrodeposited material, principally consisting of iridium and oxygen, which is a robust and long-lived catalyst for water oxidation, when driven electrochemically. The catalyst material is generated by a simple anodic deposition from Cp*Ir aqua or hydroxo complexes in aqueous solution. This work suggests that organometallic precursors may be useful in electrodeposition of inorganic heterogeneous catalysts.

Source: Chemical Science

DOI: 10.1039/c0sc00418a

Authors: James D. Blakemore, Nathan D. Schley, Gerard W. Olack, Christopher D. Incarvito, Gary W. Brudvig, Robert H. Crabtree

Institution: Yale University

Language: English

Topic: Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversion

Subfield: Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

Field: Energy

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Affordable and clean energy

Open Access status: green

Funder: U.S. Department of Energy