Issue 2, 2024

Soluble Gd6Cu24 clusters: effective molecular electrocatalysts for water oxidation

Abstract

The water oxidation half reaction in water splitting for hydrogen production is extremely rate-limiting. This study reports the synthesis of two heterometallic clusters (Gd6Cu24-IM and Gd6Cu24-AC) for application as efficient water oxidation catalysts. Interestingly, the maximum turnover frequency of Gd6Cu24-IM in an NaAc solution of a weak acid (pH 6) was 319 s−1. The trimetallic catalytic site, H2O–GdIIICuII2–H2O, underwent two consecutive two-electron two-proton coupled transfer processes to form high-valent GdIII–O–O–CuIII2 intermediates. Furthermore, the O–O bond was formed via intramolecular interactions between the CuIII and GdIII centers. The results of this study revealed that synergistic catalytic water oxidation between polymetallic sites can be an effective strategy for regulating O–O bond formation.

Graphical abstract: Soluble Gd6Cu24 clusters: effective molecular electrocatalysts for water oxidation

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Edge Article
Submitted
02 Nov. 2023
Accepted
04 Dec. 2023
First published
05 Dec. 2023
This article is Open Access

All publication charges for this article have been paid for by the Royal Society of Chemistry
Creative Commons BY-NC license

Chem. Sci., 2024,15, 511-515

Soluble Gd6Cu24 clusters: effective molecular electrocatalysts for water oxidation

J. Chen, Z. Pan, Q. Qiu, C. Wang, L. Long, L. Zheng and X. Kong, Chem. Sci., 2024, 15, 511 DOI: 10.1039/D3SC05849B

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