Decamethylcucurbit[5]uril based supramolecular assemblies as efficient electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction

Abstract

A series of supramolecular assemblies were constructed using decamethylcucurbit[5]uril. Coordination of an alkali metal and further linkage by [PtCl₆]²⁻ created a 1D building block, which formed a 3D structure through abundant hydrogen bonds. The obtained supramolecular assemblies exhibited excellent electrocatalytic performance towards the oxygen reduction reaction, comparable to the commercial Pt/C catalyst. Full characterizations, as well as density functional theory calculation results, demonstrated the structure–performance relationship.