O2 reduction via proton-coupled electron transfer by a V(iii) aquo on a polyoxovanadate-alkoxide cluster

Abstract

We report the transfer of H-atoms from a reduced polyoxovanadate alkoxide [ⁿOct₄N][V₆O₆(OH₂)(OMe)₁₂] via concerted proton–electron transfer. Oxygen reduction is compared between bridging and terminal O–H bonds revealing similar mechanisms, providing new insight to design criteria for metal-oxide electrocatalysts that faciliate oxygen reduction by concerted-proton electron transfer.