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Water Oxidation by Copper–Amino Acid Catalysts at Low Overpotentials
Author(s) -
Lu Cui,
Wang Jianying,
Chen Zuofeng
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
chemcatchem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.497
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1867-3899
pISSN - 1867-3880
DOI - 10.1002/cctc.201600261
Subject(s) - overpotential , tafel equation , catalysis , copper , electrolysis , chemistry , inorganic chemistry , electrolysis of water , transition metal , electrocatalyst , reactivity (psychology) , phosphate , oxygen evolution , electrochemistry , organic chemistry , electrode , medicine , alternative medicine , pathology , electrolyte
Although notable progress has been made in developing first‐row transition‐metals‐based water oxidation catalysts, continuous efforts are required to identify more inexpensive, efficient, and robust catalysts. Here, we demonstrate the utility of a series of readily available complexes formed by earth‐abundant copper and amino acids as catalyst precursors. In phosphate solution at pH 12, electrolysis with 1 m m Cu II and 4 m m Gly results in in situ formation of an amorphous surface precipitate of a CuO/Cu(OH) 2 mixture, which incorporates a substantial amount of phosphate anions. This surface‐bound solid can catalyze water oxidation with an impressive onset overpotential of 380 mV, an overpotential of 450 mV for a current density of 1 mA cm −2 , and a low Tafel slope of 64 mV dec −1 , which make it among the most active Cu‐based heterogeneous electrocatalysts. The copper‐based reactivity toward water oxidation is shared by Cu II complexation to other amino acids as catalyst precursors.