Introduction NiFe layered double hydroxides (NiFe-LDHs) are among the most prospective electrocatalysts of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) above neutral pH. The effect of cationic photosensitizers on the catalytic activity of NiFe-LDHs is less studied although their combination is described in the literature1. Enhancing the TOF and/or reducing the overpotential (η) of an efficient electrocatalyst could benefit from visible light photosensitization. Experimental The combination of NiFe-LDHs and [Ru(2-pyridyl-2’-benzothiazole)3]Cl2 (Ru-PBT) photosensitizer by applying Na-terephthalate (TT) pillars yielded new functional materials that could be layered on electrode surface. The obtained compounds were characterized by various techniques (XRD, FT-IR, XPS and CV) and tested in OER as electrocatalysts in the dark and under 480 nm irradiation. Results and Discussion Although XRD did not show any differences after the modification of LDH, other, surface sensitive methods like XPS and FT-IR proved the success of the attachment of the TT and Ru-PBT. While Ru-PBT containing solution does not have any effect on the activity of NiFe-LDH-on-electrode, when combined with TT and NiFe-LDH-on-electrode, higher TOF can be obtained in borate buffer solution (pH= 7.5). At more basic pH there is no significant change in the TOF and η of the NiFe-LDH-TT-Ru-PBT composite is 1.5 V (RHE), 0.5 V higher than the pristine NiFe-LDH, 1.45 V (RHE). Conclusions NiFe-LDH combined with Ru-PBT and TT were characterized and tested in OER from neutral to alkaline conditions. At near-neutral pH Ru-PBT improved the activity of NiFe-LDH in OER, at higher pH this effect cannot be detected and limited by the pH-sensitive photosensitizer. Further optimization of our system is viable by applying different Ru-complexes. Acknowledgement. D. F. Sranko is grateful for the support of HAESF. References (1)R. Roto, G. Villemure, J. Electroanalytical Chemistry 2007, 601, 112

Iron-nickel layered double hydroxide combined with Ru(II)-diimine as visible-light photosensitizer in water oxidation electrocatalysis

251st National Meeting (2016)

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