Cu-based Polyoxometalate Catalyst for Efficient Catalytic Hydrogen Evolution

Hongjin Lv, Yuanzhe Gao, Weiwei Guo, Sarah M. Lauinger, Yingnan Chi, John Bacsa, Kevin P. Sullivan, Marika Wieliczko, Djamaladdin G. Musaev*, Craig L. Hill

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

54 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Copper-based complexes have been largely neglected as potential water reduction catalysts. This article reports the synthesis and characterization of a tetra-copper-containing polyoxotungstate, Na3K7[Cu4(H2O)2(B-α-PW9O34)2]·30H2O (Na3K7-Cu4P2). Cu4P2 is a water-compatible catalyst for efficient visible-light-driven hydrogen evolution when coupled to (4,4′-di-tert-butyl-2,2′-dipyridyl)-bis(2-phenylpyridine(1H))-iridium(III) hexafluorophosphate ([Ir(ppy)2(dtbbpy)][PF6]) as a light absorber and triethanolamine (TEOA) as sacrificial electron donor. Under minimally optimized conditions, a turnover number (TON) of ∼1270 per Cu4P2 catalyst is obtained after 5 h of irradiation (light-emitting diode; λ = 455 nm; 20 mW); a photochemical quantum efficiency of as high as 15.9% is achieved. Both oxidative and reductive quenching pathways are observed by measuring the luminescence intensity of excited state [Ir(ppy)2(dtbbpy)]+∗ in the presence of Cu4P2 or TEOA, respectively. Many stability studies (e.g., UV-vis absorption, FT-IR, dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy) show that catalyst Cu4P2 undergoes slow decomposition under turnover conditions; however, both the starting Cu4P2 as well as its molecular decomposition products are the dominant catalytically active species for H2 evolution not Cu or CuOx particles. Considering the high abundance and low cost of copper, the present work provides considerations for the design and synthesis of efficient, molecular, water-compatible Cu-based water reduction catalysts.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)6750-6758
Number of pages9
JournalInorganic Chemistry
Volume55
Issue number13
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 5 Jul 2016
Externally publishedYes

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