Exploring Attached-Buffer Effects and Gibbs-Donnan Equilibria in Ionomeric Energy-Transduction Materials

Abstract

We report on polymer-based electrode coatings as organizing scaffolds to assemble cobalt phthalocyanine electrocatalysts for the CO2 reduction reaction, including how the presence of more basic imidazolyl- versus pyridyl- polymer functional groups enhances catalytic activity. We also describe the electrocatalytic activity of these constructs under varying 1) applied bias potentials, 2) proton activity, and 3) supporting electrolyte conditions that alter the ionic properties of the materials. These results are presented in the context of improving fundamental understandings of attached-buffer effects and Gibbs-Donnan equilibria relevant to polymer-encapsulated electrocatalysts.