Heterogeneous catalysis allows for a range of benefits, such as facile separation of products from catalysts along with potential increased stability of the catalyst. Immobilizing redox active molecules on the surface of a working electrode offers the added benefits of faster electron transfer from the electrode to the catalyst, the elimination of diffusion effects for simplification of kinetic studies, and flexibility in the solvents used for bulk electrolysis due to the elimination of catalyst solubility requirements. In this work, I will present a series of electroactive and electrocatalytic compounds covalently immobilized onto a variety of high surface area carbon substrates. A Cu(I) catalyzed alkyne-azide cycloaddition reaction was used to immobilize metal complexes and redox active organic compounds onto glassy carbon (GC), graphene (GE) and mesoporous carbon (MC) surfaces. A noted increase in catalyst loading, current density and rates of reactions were observed on GE and MC in comparison with GC. Modified materials were characterized using cyclic voltammetry (CV), Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and their electrocatalytic activity was evaluated via controlled potential electrolysis (CPE). I will discuss the reduction of protons to H<sub>2</sub> and the oxidation of benzylic alcohols to the corresponding aldehydes using various modified electrodes.

Covalent attachment of molecular electrocatalysts to high surface area carbon materials

251st National Meeting (2016)

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