Abstract
Conducting polymers consisting of metal-selective coordination units and a highly conductive backbone, so-called metallopolymers, are interesting materials exposing single atoms for photo/electrocatalysis and thus represent a potential low-cost alternative for bulk or nanoparticulate platinum group metals (PGMs). We synthesized and fully characterized an electropolymerisable monomer bearing a pendant terpyridine unit for the selective complexation of PGMs. Electrocatalytic tests of the resulting metallopolymer, poly-[(tThTerpy)PtCl]Cl, revealed activity both in the oxygen reduction reaction and hydrogen evolution reaction. Rotating disk experiments showed the direct four-electron reduction of molecular oxygen to water at low angular velocities of the rotating electrode. Furthermore, the fabrication of Pt metallopolymers proved to be simple, nonhazardous and versatile. This proof-of-concept opens up the possibility for developing future low-cost electro- and photocatalysts to replace current systems.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 10206-10214 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering |
Volume | 5 |
Issue number | 11 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 6 Nov 2017 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Oxygen reduction reaction
- Hydrogen evolution reaction
- Electrocatalyst
- Conducting polymer
- Terthiophene
- Metal complex
- Low metal loading
- Fuel cells