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Title: In situ characterization of cofacial Co(IV) centers in Co4O4 cubane: Modeling the high-valent active site in oxygen-evolving catalysts

Journal Article · · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
 [1];  [2];  [2];  [2];  [1];  [3]; ORCiD logo [1]
  1. Harvard Univ., Cambridge, MA (United States). Dept. of Chemistry and Chemical Biology
  2. Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States). Chemical Sciences and Engineering Division
  3. Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States). Chemical Sciences and Engineering Division; Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States). Dept. of Chemistry

The Co4O4cubane is a representative structural model of oxidic cobalt oxygen-evolving catalysts (Co-OECs). The Co-OECs are active when residing at two oxidation levels above an all-Co(III) resting state. This doubly oxidized Co(IV)2state may be captured in a Co(III)2(IV)2cubane. We demonstrate that the Co(III)2(IV)2cubane may be electrochemically generated and the electronic properties of this unique high-valent state may be probed by in situ spectroscopy. Intervalence charge-transfer (IVCT) bands in the near-IR are observed for the Co(III)2(IV)2cubane, and spectroscopic analysis together with electrochemical kinetics measurements reveal a larger reorganization energy and a smaller electron transfer rate constant for the doubly versus singly oxidized cubane. Spectroelectrochemical X-ray absorption data further reveal systematic spectral changes with successive oxidations from the cubane resting state. Electronic structure calculations correlated to experimental data suggest that this state is best represented as a localized, antiferromagnetically coupled Co(IV)2dimer. The exchange coupling in the cofacial Co(IV)2site allows for parallels to be drawn between the electronic structure of the Co4O4cubane model system and the high-valent active site of the Co-OEC, with specific emphasis on the manifestation of a doubly oxidized Co(IV)2center on O–O bond formation.

Research Organization:
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States); Harvard Univ., Cambridge, MA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Chemical Sciences, Geosciences, and Biosciences Division; National Science Foundation (NSF)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-06CH11357; SC0017619
OSTI ID:
1373381
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1599216
Journal Information:
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Vol. 114, Issue 15; ISSN 0027-8424
Publisher:
National Academy of SciencesCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 84 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Computational Modeling of Cobalt-Based Water Oxidation: Current Status and Future Challenges text January 2018
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Stable iridium dinuclear heterogeneous catalysts supported on metal-oxide substrate for solar water oxidation journal March 2018
Computational Modeling of Cobalt-Based Water Oxidation: Current Status and Future Challenges journal April 2018
Mechanistic Insights into Light-Activated Catalysis for Water Oxidation: Mechanistic Insights into Light-Activated Catalysis for Water Oxidation journal January 2019
In Situ EPR Characterization of a Cobalt Oxide Water Oxidation Catalyst at Neutral pH journal November 2019
Electrochemical trapping of metastable Mn 3+ ions for activation of MnO 2 oxygen evolution catalysts journal May 2018
Selective C(sp 2 )‐H Amination Catalyzed by High‐Valent Cobalt(III)/(IV)‐bpy Complex Immobilized on Silica Nanoparticles journal October 2019
Discovery of Open Cubane Core Structures for Biomimetic LnCo 3 (OR) 4 Water Oxidation Catalysts journal October 2017
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Photoluminescence and Magnetism Study of Blue Light Emitting the Oxygen-Bridged Open-Cubane Cobalt(II) Cluster journal June 2018
Reactive Cobalt–Oxo Complexes of Tetrapyrrolic Macrocycles and N-based Ligand in Oxidative Transformation Reactions journal December 2018
Compositional Control as the Key for Achieving Highly Efficient OER Electrocatalysis with Cobalt Phosphates Decorated Nanocarbon Florets journal March 2020
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2D Metal Organic Framework‐Graphitic Carbon Nanocomposites as Precursors for High‐Performance O 2 ‐Evolution Electrocatalysts journal October 2018
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