Spectroelectrochemistry of Water Oxidation Kinetics in Molecular versus Heterogeneous Oxide Iridium Electrocatalysts.

Water oxidation is the step limiting the efficiency of electrocatalytic hydrogen production from water. Spectroelectrochemical analyses are employed to make a direct comparison of water oxidation reaction kinetics between a molecular catalyst, the dimeric iridium catalyst [Ir(pyalc)(HO)-(μ-O)] (, pyalc = 2-(2'pyridinyl)-2-propanolate) immobilized on a mesoporous indium tin oxide (ITO) substrate, with that of an heterogeneous electrocatalyst, an amorphous hydrous iridium () film. For both systems, four analogous redox states were detected, with the formation of Ir(4+)-Ir(5+) being the potential-determining step in both cases.

Surprisingly big linker-dependence of activity and selectivity in CO reduction by an iridium(i) pincer complex.

Here, we report the quantitative electroreduction of CO2 to CO by a PNP-pincer iridium(i) complex bearing amino linkers in DMF/water. The electrocatalytic properties greatly depend on the choice of linker within the ligand. The complex 3-N is far superior to the analogues with methylene and oxygen linkers, showing higher activity and better selectivity for CO2 over proton reduction.

Heterogeneous Nature of Electrocatalytic CO/CO Reduction by Cobalt Phthalocyanines.

Molecular catalysts for electrochemical CO reduction have traditionally been studied in their dissolved states. However, the heterogenization of molecular catalysts has the potential to deliver much higher reaction rates and enable the reduction of CO by more than two electrons. In light of the recently discovered reactivity of heterogenized cobalt phthalocyanine molecules to catalyze CO reduction into methanol, direct comparison is needed to uncover the distinct catalytic activity and selectivity in homogeneous catalysis versus heterogeneous catalysis.

Metal-Organic Framework Photoconductivity via Time-Resolved Terahertz Spectroscopy.

While metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been under thorough investigation over the past two decades, photoconductive MOFs are an emerging class of materials with promising applications in light harvesting and photocatalysis. To date, there is not a general method to investigate the photoconductivity of polycrystalline MOF samples as-prepared. Herein, we utilize time-resolved terahertz spectroscopy along with a new sample preparation method to determine the photoconductivity of ZnTTFTB, an archetypical conductive MOF, in a noncontact manner.

Synthesis of arrays containing porphyrin, chlorin, and perylene-imide constituents for panchromatic light-harvesting and charge separation.

Achieving solar light harvesting followed by efficient charge separation and transport is an essential objective of molecular-based artificial photosynthesis. Architectures that afford strong absorption across the near-UV to near-infrared region, namely panchromatic absorptivity, are critically important given the broad spectral distribution of sunlight. A tetrapyrrole-perylene pentad array was synthesized and investigated as a means to integrate panchromatic light harvesting and intramolecular charge separation.

Tailoring Panchromatic Absorption and Excited-State Dynamics of Tetrapyrrole-Chromophore (Bodipy, Rylene) Arrays-Interplay of Orbital Mixing and Configuration Interaction.

Three sets of tetrapyrrole-chromophore arrays have been examined that exhibit panchromatic absorption across large portions of the near-ultraviolet (NUV) to near-infrared (NIR) spectrum along with favorable excited-state properties for use in solar-energy conversion. The arrays vary the tetrapyrrole (porphyrin, chlorin, bacteriochlorin), chromophore (boron-dipyrrin, perylene, terrylene), and attachment sites (meso-position, β-pyrrole position). In all, seven dyads, one triad, and nine benchmarks in toluene and benzonitrile were studied using steady-state and time-resolved absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy.

Tuning the Electronic Structure and Properties of Perylene-Porphyrin-Perylene Panchromatic Absorbers.

Light-harvesting architectures that afford strong absorption across the near-ultraviolet to near-infrared region, namely, panchromatic absorptivity, are potentially valuable for capturing the broad spectral distribution of sunlight. One previously reported triad consisting of two perylene monoimides strongly coupled to a free base porphyrin via ethyne linkers (FbT) shows panchromatic absorption together with a porphyrin-like S1 excited state albeit at lower energy than that of a typical monomeric porphyrin. Here, two new porphyrin-bis(perylene) triads have been prepared wherein the porphyrin bears two pentafluorophenyl substituents.

Oligo(3,6-phenanthrene ethynylenes): synthesis, characterization, and photoluminescence.

A series of highly fluorescent, oligo(3,6-phenanthrene ethynylenes) (F1-F7) were synthesized, and their photophysical behavior was systematically investigated. They emitted light with highly emissive quantum yields, up to 0.92.

An efficient synthesis of heptaaryldipyrromethenes from tetraarylcyclopentadienones and ammonium acetate and their extension to the corresponding BODIPYs.

Heptaaryldipyrromethenes are efficiently prepared from ammonium acetate and tetraarylcyclopentadienones in a one-pot cascade process and can be converted into heptaaryl BODIPYs with fluorescent response to environmental acidity.