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Title: Efficient Light-Driven Oxidation of Alcohols Using an Organic Chromophore–Catalyst Assembly Anchored to TiO2

Journal Article · · ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces
 [1];  [2];  [2];  [2];  [2];  [2];  [3];  [1]
  1. Georgia Inst. of Technology, Atlanta, GA (United States)
  2. Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC (United States)
  3. Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL (United States)

In this work, the ligand 5-PO3H2-2,2':5',2"-terthiophene-5-trpy, T3 (trpy = 2,2':6',2"-terpyridine), was prepared and studied in aqueous solutions along with its metal complex assembly [Ru(T3)(bpy)(OH2)]2+ (T3-Ru-OH2, bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine). T3 contains a phosphonic acid group for anchoring to a TiO2 photoanode under aqueous conditions, a terthiophene fragment for light absorption and electron injection into TiO2, and a terminal trpy ligand for the construction of assemblies comprising a molecular oxidation catalyst. At a TiO2 photoanode, T3 displays efficient injection at pH 4.35 as evidenced by the high photocurrents (~350 uA/cm2) arising from hydroquinone oxidation. Addition of [Ru(bpy)(OTf)][OTf]2 (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, OTf = triflate) to T3 at the free trpy ligand forms the molecular assembly, T3-Ru-OH2, with the oxidative catalyst fragment: [Ru(trpy)(bpy)(OH2)]2+. Finally, the new assembly, T3-Ru-OH2, was used to perform efficient light-driven oxidation of phenol (230 μA/cm2) and benzyl alcohol (25 μA/cm2) in a dye-sensitized photoelectrosynthesis cell.

Research Organization:
Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRC) (United States). Center for Solar Fuels (UNC EFRC)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0001011
OSTI ID:
1371253
Journal Information:
ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, Vol. 8, Issue 14; Related Information: UNC partners with University of North Carolina (lead); Duke University; University of Florida; Georgia Institute of Technology; University; North Carolina Central University; Research Triangle Institute; ISSN 1944-8244
Publisher:
American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 32 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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