Characterization and performance of electrostatically adsorbed Ru–Hbpp water oxidation catalysts

Abstract

A new family of Ru–Hbpp dinuclear complexes containing the positively charged terpyridine derivative ligand 4-(-p-(pyridin-1-ylmethyl)phenyl)-2,2′:6′,2′-terpyridine of general formula {[Ru(L1⁺)]₂(μ-bpp)(L-L)}^m+ (L-L = μ-Cl, μ-acetato, or (H₂O)₂; m = 4 or 5) have been synthesized and fully characterized, both in the solid state (X-ray diffraction) and in solution (1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, UV–vis spectroscopy and electrochemical techniques). New hybrid materials have been prepared by the electrostatic interaction of these complexes with several oxidatively rugged solid supports such as SiO₂, FTO–TiO₂ and FTO–Nafion^®. These new hybrid materials were prepared and catalytically evaluated with regard to their capacity to chemically and electrochemically oxidize water to dioxygen.