Molecular electrocatalysts have two distinct advantages over their heterogeneous counterparts: (1) their electronics and reactivity can be easily tuned through synthetic control of their ligands and (2) their mechanisms can be readily studied using a variety of spectroscopic tools. Immobilizing molecular fuel-forming electrocatalysts onto photovoltaic electrodes provides a route for efficient and selective conversion of sunlight into chemical bonds. However, synthetic challenges hinder the facile attachment of molecular catalysts onto photovoltaic electrodes. Here we describe the attachment of a molecular cobalt bisdithiolate proton reduction catalyst onto high-surface area silicon photoelectrodes using π-π interactions. Spectroscopic characterization, photoelectrochemical properties, and photoelectrocatalytic proton reduction ability of the modified photoelectrode are reported.

Immobilization of a molecular proton reduction catalyst onto high-surface area silicon photoelectrodes

2019 Fall National Meeting

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