Enhanced CO2 electroreduction efficiency through secondary coordination effects on a pincer iridium catalyst

Abstract

An iridium(III) trihydride complex supported by a pincer ligand with a hydrogen bond donor in the secondary coordination sphere promotes the electrocatalytic reduction of CO₂ to formate in water/acetonitrile with excellent Faradaic efficiency and low overpotential. Preliminary mechanistic experiments indicate formate formation is facile while product release is a kinetically difficult step.