A series of molecularly engineered and novel dyes WS1, WS2, WS3, and WS4, based on the D35 donor, 1-(4-hexylphenyl)-2,5-di(thiophen-2-yl)-1H-pyrrole and 4-(4-hexylphenyl)-4H-dithieno[3,2-b:2',3'-d]pyrrole as π-conjugating linkers, were synthesized and compared to the well-known LEG4 dye. The performance of the dyes was investigated in combination with an electrolyte based on Co(II/III) complexes as redox shuttles. The electron recombination between the redox mediators in the electrolyte and the TiO2 interface decreases upon the introduction of 4-hexylybenzene entities on the 2,5-di(thiophen-2-yl)-1H-pyrrole and 4H-dithieno[3,2-b:2',3'-d]pyrrole linker units, probably because of steric hindrance. The open circuit photovoltage of WS1-, WS2-, WS3-, and WS4-based devices in combination with the Co(II/III)-based electrolyte are consistently higher than those based on a I-/I3 - electrolyte by 105, 147, 167, and 75 mV, respectively. The WS3-based devices show the highest power conversion efficiency of 7.4% at AM 1.5 G 100 mW/cm2 illumination mainly attributable to the high open-circuit voltage (V OC).

The mononuclear ruthenium complex [Ru(pdc)L3] (H2pdc = 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid, L = N-heterocycles such as 4-picoline) has previously shown promising catalytic efficiency toward water oxidation, both in homogeneous solutions and anchored on electrode surfaces. However, the detailed water oxidation mechanism catalyzed by this type of complex has remained unclear. In order to deepen understanding of this type of catalyst, in the present study, [Ru(pdc)(py)3] (py = pyridine) has been synthesized, and the detailed catalytic mechanism has been studied by electrochemistry, UV–vis, NMR, MS, and X-ray crystallography. Interestingly, it was found that once having reached the RuIV state, this complex promptly formed a stable ruthenium dimer [RuIII(pdc)(py)2-O-RuIV(pdc)(py)2]+. Further investigations suggested that the present dimer, after one pyridine ligand exchange with water to form [RuIII(pdc)(py)2-O-RuIV(pdc)(py)(H2O)]+, was the true active species to catalyze water oxidation in homogeneous solutions.

Electrochemical water splitting requires efficient water oxidation catalysts to accelerate the sluggish kinetics of water oxidation reaction. Here, we report a promisingly dendritic core-shell nickel-iron-copper metal/metal oxide electrode, prepared via dealloying with an electrodeposited nickel-iron-copper alloy as a precursor, as the catalyst for water oxidation. The as-prepared core-shell nickel-iron-copper electrode is characterized with porous oxide shells and metallic cores. This tri-metal-based core-shell nickel-iron-copper electrode exhibits a remarkable activity toward water oxidation in alkaline medium with an overpotential of only 180 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm −2 . The core-shell NiFeCu electrode exhibits pH-dependent oxygen evolution reaction activity on the reversible hydrogen electrode scale, suggesting that non-concerted proton-electron transfers participate in catalyzing the oxygen evolution reaction. To the best of our knowledge, the as-fabricated core-shell nickel-iron-copper is one of the most promising oxygen evolution catalysts.

Identifying surface active intermediate species is essential to reveal the catalytic mechanism of water oxidation by metal-oxides-based catalysts and to develop more efficient catalysts for oxygen-oxygen bond formation. Here we report, through electrochemical methods and ex situ infrared spectroscopy, the identification of a Mn-VII = O intermediate during catalytic water oxidation by a c-disordered delta-MnOx with an onset-potential-dependent reduction peak at 0.93 V and an infrared peak at 912 cm(-1). This intermediate is proved to be highly reactive and much more oxidative than permanganate ion. Therefore, we propose a new catalytic mechanism for water oxidation catalyzed by Mn oxides, with involvement of the Mn-VII = O intermediate in a resting state and the Mn-IV-O-Mn-VII = O as a real active species for oxygen-oxygen bond formation.

Chemical doping of organic semiconductors has been recognized as an effective way to enhance the electrical conductivity. In perovskite solar cells (PSCs), various types of dopants have been developed for organic hole transport materials (HTMs); however, the knowledge of the basic requirements for being efficient dopants as well as the comprehensive roles of the dopants in PSCs has not been clearly revealed. Here, three copper-based complexes with controlled redox activities are applied as dopants in PSCs, and it is found that the oxidative reactivity of dopants presents substantial impacts on conductivity, charge dynamics, and solar cell performance. A significant improvement of open-circuit voltage ( Voc) by more than 100 mV and an increase of power conversion efficiency from 13.2 to 19.3% have been achieved by tuning the doping level of the HTM. The observed large variation of Voc for three dopants reveals their different recombination kinetics at the perovskite/HTM interfaces and suggests a model of an interfacial recombination mechanism. We also suggest that the dopants in HTMs can also affect the charge recombination kinetics as well as the solar cell performance. Based on these findings, a strategy is proposed to physically passivate the electron-hole recombination by inserting an ultrathin Al2O3 insulating layer between the perovskite and the HTM. This strategy contributes a significant enhancement of the power conversion efficiency and environmental stability, indicating that dopant engineering is one crucial way to further improve the performance of PSCs.

Low cost transition metal-based electrocatalysts for water oxidation and understanding their structure-activity relationship are greatly desired for clean and sustainable chemical fuel production. Herein, a core-shell (CS) NiFeCr metal/metal hydroxide catalyst was fabricated on a 3D Cu nanoarray by a simple electrodeposition-activation method. A synergistic promotion effect between electronic structure modulation and nanostructure regulation was presented on a CS-NiFeCr oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalyst: the 3D nanoarchitecture facilitates the mass transport process, the in situ formed interface metal/metal hydroxide heterojunction accelerates the electron transfer, and the electronic structure modulation by Cr incorporation improves the reaction kinetics. Benefiting from the synergy between structural and electronic modulation, the catalyst shows excellent activity toward water oxidation under alkaline conditions: overpotential of 200 mV at 10 mA/cm(2) current density and Tafel slope of 28 mV/dec. This work opens up a new window for understanding the structure-activity relationship of OER catalysts and encourages new strategies for development of more advanced OER catalysts.

The reaction of CuCl2 with 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (dmp) does not lead to the formation of [Cu(dmp)2](Cl)2 but instead to [Cu(dmp)2Cl]Cl, a 5-coordinated complex, in which one chloride is directly coordinated to the metal center. Attempts at removing the coordinated chloride by changing the counterion by metathesis were unsuccessful and resulted only in the exchange of the noncoordinated chloride, as confirmed from a crystal structure analysis. Complex [Cu(dmp)2Cl]PF6 exhibits a reversible cyclic voltammogram characterized by a significant peak splitting between the reductive and oxidative waves (0.85 and 0.60 V vs NHE, respectively), with a half-wave potential E1/2 = 0.73 V vs NHE. When reduced electrochemically, the complex does not convert into [Cu(dmp)2]+, as one may expect. Instead, [Cu(dmp)2]+ is isolated as a product when the reduction of [Cu(dmp)2Cl]PF6 is performed with l-ascorbic acid, as confirmed by electrochemistry, NMR spectroscopy, and diffractometry. [Cu(dmp)2]2+ complexes can be synthesized starting from Cu(II) salts with weakly and noncoordinating counterions, such as perchlorate. Growth of [Cu(dmp)2](ClO4)2 crystals in acetonitrile results in a 5-coordinated complex, [Cu(dmp)2(CH3CN)](ClO4)2, in which a solvent molecule is coordinated to the metal center. However, solvent coordination is associated with a dynamic decoordination-coordination behavior upon reduction and oxidation. Hence, the cyclic voltammogram of [Cu(dmp)2(CH3CN)]2+ is identical to the one of [Cu(dmp)2]+, if the measurements are performed in acetonitrile. The current results show that halide ions in precursors to Cu(II) metal-organic coordination compound synthesis, and most likely also other multivalent coordination centers, are not readily exchanged when exposed to presumed strongly binding and chelating ligand, and thus special care needs to be taken with respect to product characterization.

A hierarchically structured Ni–Co–P film exhibits remarkable activity toward the hydrogen evolution reaction with a current density of −10 mA cm−2 at −30 mV vs. the RHE.

The development of manganese-based water oxidation electrocatalysts is desirable for the production of solar fuels, as manganese is earth-abundant, inexpensive, non-toxic, and has been employed by the Photosystem II in nature for a billion years. Herein, we directly constructed a 3 D nanoarchitectured turbostratic δ-MnOx on carbon nanotube-modified nickel foam (MnOx /CNT/NF) by electrodeposition and a subsequent annealing process. The MnOx /CNT/NF electrode gives a benchmark catalytic current density (10 mA cm-2 ) at an overpotential (η) of 270 mV under alkaline conditions. A steady current density of 19 mA cm-2 is obtained during electrolysis at 1.53 V for 1.0 h. To the best of our knowledge, this work represents the most efficient manganese-oxide-based water oxidation electrode and demonstrates that manganese oxides, as a structural and functional model of oxygen-evolving complex (OEC) in Photosystem II, can also become comparable to those of most Ni- and Co-based catalysts.

Noble-metal-free bimetal-based electrocatalysts have shown high efficiency for water oxidation. Ni and/or Co in these electrocatalysts are essential to provide a conductive, high-surface area and a chemically stable host. However, the necessity of Ni or Co limits the scope of low-cost electrocatalysts. Herein, we report a hierarchical hollow FeV composite, which is Ni- and Co-free and highly efficient for electrocatalytic water oxidation with low overpotential 390 mV (10 mA cm(-2) catalytic current density), low Tafel slope of 36.7 mV dec(-1), and a considerable durability. This work provides a novel and efficient catalyst, and greatly expands the scope of low-cost Fe-based electrocatalysts for water splitting without need of Ni or Co.

Electrochemical water oxidation by Copper peptidecomplexes: molecular catalysts on gold electrode surface

The use of cobalt porphyrin complexes as efficient and cost-effective molecular catalysts for water oxidation has been investigated previously. However, by combining a set of analytical techniques (electrochemistry, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and synchrotron-based photoelectron spectroscopy (SOXPES and HAXPES)), we have demonstrated that three different cobalt porphyrins, deposited on FTO glasses, decompose promptly into a thin film of CoOx on the surface of the electrode during water oxidation under certain conditions (borate buffer pH 9.2). It is presumed that the film is composed of CoO, only detectable by SOXPES, as conventional techniques are ineffective. This newly formed film has a high turnover frequency (TOF), while the high transparency of the CoOx-based electrode is very promising for future application in photoelectrochemical cells.

The development of a highly active manganese-based water oxidation catalyst in the design of an ideal artificial photosynthetic device operating under neutral pH conditions remains a great challenge, due to the instability of pivotal Mn3+ intermediates. We report here defective and "c-disordered" layered manganese oxides (MnOx-300) formed on a fluorine-doped tin oxide electrode by constant anodic potential deposition and subsequent annealing, with a catalytic onset (0.25 mA/cm(2)) at an overpotential (eta) of 280 mV and a benchmark catalytic current density of 1.0 mA/cm(2) at an overpotential (eta) of 330 mV under neutral pH (1 M potassium phosphate). Steady current density above 8.2 mA/cm(2) was obtained during the electrolysis at 1.4 V versus the normal hydrogen electrode for 20 h. Insightful studies showed that the main contributing factors for the observed high activity of MnOx-300 are (i) a defective and randomly stacked layered structure, (ii) an increased degree of Jahn-Teller distorted Mn3+ in the MnO6 octahedral sheets, (iii) effective stabilization of Mn3+, (iv) a high surface area, and (v) improved electrical conductivity. These results demonstrate that manganese oxides as structural and functional models of an oxygen-evolving complex (OEC) in photosystem II are promising catalysts for water oxidation in addition to Ni/Co-based oxides/hydroxides.

The coordination of a substrate water molecule on a metal centered catalyst for water oxidation is a crucial step involving the reorganization of the ligand sphere. This process can occur by substituting a coordinated ligand with a water molecule or via a direct coordination of water onto an open site. In 2009, we reported an efficient ruthenium-based molecular catalyst, Ru-bda, for water oxidation. Despite the impressive improvement in catalytic activity of this type of catalyst over the past years, a lack of understanding of the water coordination still remains. Herein, we report our EPR and DFT studies on Ru-bda (triethylammonium 3-pyridine sulfonate)(2) (1) at its Ru-III oxidation state, which is the initial state in the catalytic cycle for the O-O bond formation. Our investigation suggests that at this III-state, there is already a rearrangement in the ligand sphere where the coordination of a water molecule at the 7th position (open site) takes place under acidic conditions (pH = 1.0) to form a rare 7-coordinated Ru-III species. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Many Ru water oxidation catalysts have been documented in the literature. However, only a few can catalyze the O-O bond formation via the radical coupling pathway, while most go through the water nucleophilic attack pathway. Understanding the electronic effect on the reaction pathway is of importance in design of active water oxidation catalysts. The Ru-bda (bda = 2,2'-bipyridine-6,6'-dicarboxylate) catalyst is one example that catalyzes the 0-0 bond formation via the radical coupling pathway. Herein, we manipulate the equatorial backbone ligand, change the doubly charged bda(2-) ligand to a singly charged tpc- (2,2':6',2 ''-terpyridine-6-carboxylate) ligand, and study the structure activity relationship. Surprisingly, kinetics measurements revealed that the resulting Ru-tpc catalyst catalyzes water oxidation via the water nucleophilic attack pathway, which is different from the Ru-bda catalyst. The O-O bond formation Gibbs free energy of activation (AGO) at T = 298.15 K was 20.2 +/- 1.7 kcal mol(-1). The electronic structures of a series of Ru-v=O species were studied by density function theory calculations, revealing that the spin density of O-Ru=O of Ru-v=O is largely dependent on the surrounding ligands. Seven coordination configuration significantly enhances the radical character of Ru-v=O.

A water oxidation electrocatalyst with high activity is essential for promoting the overall efficiency of an integrated water splitting device. Herein, by investigating the prominent temperature dependence of electrocatalytic water oxidation catalyzed by first row transition metal oxides, we present how to elevate the operating temperature of the electrolyzer as an effective and universal method to improve its electrocatalytic performance. Consequently, a triple device model combining a photothermal collector with a photovoltaic (PV) cell coupled to a water splitting device is proposed to realize the comprehensive and efficient utilization of solar energy: solar heat + PV + electrolyzer.