Ruthenium containing molecular electrocatalyst on glassy carbon for electrochemical water splitting

• Published in: Dalton transactions : an international journal of inorganic chemistry 2022-05, Vol.51 (2), p.7957-7965
• Main Authors: Li, Lin, Das, Biswanath, Rahaman, Ahibur, Shatskiy, Andrey, Ye, Fei, Cheng, Peihong, Yuan, Chunze, Yang, Zhiqi, Verho, Oscar, Kärkäs, Markus D, Dutta, Joydeep, Weng, Tsu-Chien, Åkermark, Björn
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: A-carbon; Anodes; Carbon; Carbon neutrals; Catalysts; Cell-based; Cost effective; Cost effectiveness; Efficient anode; Electrocatalysis; Electrocatalysts; Electrochemicals; Electrolysis; Electrolysis cell; Electrolytic cells; Energy economy; Fuel cells; Glass; Glass membrane electrodes; Glassy carbon; Hydrogen fuels; Metal oxides; Multi wall carbon nanotubes; Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCN); Oxidation; Ru based catalysts; Ruthenium; Ruthenium compounds; Stability; Stability augmentation; Water splitting
• ISSN: 1477-9226; 1477-9234; 1477-9234
• DOI: 10.1039/d2dt00824f

Electrochemical water splitting constitutes one of the most promising strategies for converting water into hydrogen-based fuels, and this technology is predicted to play a key role in the transition towards a carbon-neutral energy economy. To enable the design of cost-effective electrolysis cells based on this technology, new and more efficient anodes with augmented water splitting activity and stability will be required. Herein, we report an active molecular Ru-based catalyst for electrochemically-driven water oxidation (overpotential of ∼395 mV at pH 7 phosphate buffer) and two simple methods for preparing anodes by attaching this catalyst onto glassy carbon through multi-walled carbon nanotubes to improve stability as well as reactivity. The anodes modified with the molecular catalyst were characterized by a broad toolbox of microscopy and spectroscopy techniques, and interestingly no RuO 2 formation was detected during electrocatalysis over 4 h. These results demonstrate that the herein presented strategy can be used to prepare anodes that rival the performance of state-of-the-art metal oxide anodes. Immobilizing ruthenium containing molecular electrocatalyst onto glassy carbon surface through bipyridine linkers and MWCNTs for efficient water oxidation.