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Title: Structural and Electronic Influences on Rates of Tertpyridine-Amine CoIII-H Formation During Catalytic H2 Evolution in an Aqueous Environment

Journal Article · · ChemPhysChem

Abstract In this work, the differences in catalytic performance for a series of Co hydrogen evolution catalysts with different pentadentate polypyridyl ligands (L), have been rationalized by examining elementary steps of the catalytic cycle using a combination of electrochemical and transient pulse radiolysis (PR) studies in aqueous solution. Solvolysis of the [Co II −Cl] + species results in the formation of [Co II4 ‐L)(OH 2 )] 2+ . Further reduction produces [Co I4 ‐L)(OH 2 )] + , which undergoes a rate‐limiting structural rearrangement to [Co I5 ‐L)] + before being protonated to form [Co III −H] 2+ . The rate of [Co III −H] 2+ formation is similar for all complexes in the series. Using E 1/2 values of various Co species and p K a values of [Co III −H] 2+ estimated from PR experiments, we found that while the protonation of [Co III −H] 2+ is unfavorable, [Co II −H] + reacts with protons to produce H 2 . The catalytic activity for H 2 evolution tracks the hydricity of the [Co II −H] + intermediate.

Research Organization:
Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0012704
OSTI ID:
1784482
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1787711
Report Number(s):
BNL-221417-2021-JAAM
Journal Information:
ChemPhysChem, Vol. 22, Issue 14; ISSN 1439-4235
Publisher:
ChemPubSoc EuropeCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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