Iridium complexes have recently been proposed as remarkably active catalysts for water oxidation to molecular oxygen, which seems to be (one of) the most difficult step(s) of the photo-electrochemical process for the generation of hydrogen using the sunlight.In this contribution, the results of our efforts aimed at developing new iridium catalysts for the oxidative splitting of water are reported. Particularly, the performance of iridium (pre)catalysts [Cp*Ir(?2-N,Y)X] (N,Y = benzoyl pyridine, bipyridine, pyridincarboxylates; Y=Cl and NO3) is discussed based on their kinetics (order in catalyst and sacrificial oxidant). The results of in situ NMR studies, carried out order to shed some light on the degradation pathways of selected archetypal catalysts, are also illustrated. Finally, it is showed that the readily available and highly water-soluble [IrCl(Hedta)]Na complex is capable of efficiently promoting water oxidation and its performance is comparable to those of the best catalysts reported so far.

Oxidative splitting of water catalyzed by iridium complexes

245th National Meeting (2013)

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