Synthesis of wave-shaped Cu(ii) porphyrin arrays and their electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity

Abstract

The synthesis of wave-shaped porphyrin(2.1.2.1) arrays, including trimers and tetramers, was achieved for the first time through substitutional effects and building blocks. This enabled us to reveal the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) capacity of the wave-shaped Cu(II) porphyrin(2.1.2.1) arrays. The trinuclear Cu(II) porphyrin(2.1.2.1) array exhibits remarkable HER capacity due to three catalytic Cu(II) ions and a π-ligand of porphyrin(2.1.2.1) array, resulting in lower overpotential, faster HER and charge transfer kinetics, and longer catalytic and charge transfer stability. In this study, we present a novel approach for the development of electrocatalytic molecular catalysts with multiple metal centres.