We present a study of electrocatalytic water oxidation by a set of organic iminium cations. The water oxidation occurs at high overpotentials for some of the model compounds and the process is dependent on the type of the working electrode. For example, the catalysis is observed on platinum and glassy carbon electrodes, but is absent on fluoride-dopend tin oxide electrodes.<br/><br/>We postulate that the iminium ions are adsorbed on the electrode surface prior to catalysis. To obtain better understanding of the adsorption/catalysis, we performed electrochemical in-situ surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy measurements as well as quartz microbalance experiments. The results indicate that the adsorption of the model compounds indeed occurs on the electrode's surface and the results reveal the important intermediates involved in catalysis.

Electrocatalytic water oxidation by iminium ions

249th National Meeting (2015)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.