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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

Abstract

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.

Authors:
 [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
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States); Harvard Univ., Cambridge, MA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Chemical Sciences, Geosciences, and Biosciences Division; National Science Foundation (NSF)
OSTI Identifier:
1373381
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1599216
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC02-06CH11357; SC0017619
Resource Type:
Journal Article: Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 114; Journal Issue: 15; Journal ID: ISSN 0027-8424
Publisher:
National Academy of Sciences
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; renewable energy; Water-splitting; electrocatalysis; exchange coupling; mixed valency; oxygen evolution reaction; solar-to-fuels; Water-splitting, renewable energy, solar-to-fuels, electrocatalysis, oxygen evolution reaction, mixed valency, exchange coupling

Citation Formats

Brodsky, Casey N., Hadt, Ryan G., Hayes, Dugan, Reinhart, Benjamin J., Li, Nancy, Chen, Lin X., and Nocera, Daniel G. In situ characterization of cofacial Co(IV) centers in Co4O4 cubane: Modeling the high-valent active site in oxygen-evolving catalysts. United States: N. p., 2017. Web. doi:10.1073/pnas.1701816114.
Brodsky, Casey N., Hadt, Ryan G., Hayes, Dugan, Reinhart, Benjamin J., Li, Nancy, Chen, Lin X., & Nocera, Daniel G. In situ characterization of cofacial Co(IV) centers in Co4O4 cubane: Modeling the high-valent active site in oxygen-evolving catalysts. United States. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1701816114
Brodsky, Casey N., Hadt, Ryan G., Hayes, Dugan, Reinhart, Benjamin J., Li, Nancy, Chen, Lin X., and Nocera, Daniel G. 2017. "In situ characterization of cofacial Co(IV) centers in Co4O4 cubane: Modeling the high-valent active site in oxygen-evolving catalysts". United States. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1701816114. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1373381.
@article{osti_1373381,
title = {In situ characterization of cofacial Co(IV) centers in Co4O4 cubane: Modeling the high-valent active site in oxygen-evolving catalysts},
author = {Brodsky, Casey N. and Hadt, Ryan G. and Hayes, Dugan and Reinhart, Benjamin J. and Li, Nancy and Chen, Lin X. and Nocera, Daniel G.},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {10.1073/pnas.1701816114},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1373381}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America},
issn = {0027-8424},
number = 15,
volume = 114,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Mar 27 00:00:00 EDT 2017},
month = {Mon Mar 27 00:00:00 EDT 2017}
}

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Mechanistic Insights into Light-Activated Catalysis for Water Oxidation: Mechanistic Insights into Light-Activated Catalysis for Water Oxidation
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In Situ EPR Characterization of a Cobalt Oxide Water Oxidation Catalyst at Neutral pH
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Electrochemical trapping of metastable Mn 3+ ions for activation of MnO 2 oxygen evolution catalysts
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Selective C(sp 2 )‐H Amination Catalyzed by High‐Valent Cobalt(III)/(IV)‐bpy Complex Immobilized on Silica Nanoparticles
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