Cubane Ru4(CO)8 cluster containing 4 pyridine-methanol ligands as a highly efficient photoelectrocatalyst for oxygen evolution reaction from water

Abstract

The preparation of Ru4 ruthenium-cubane cluster [Ru4(hmp)4(CO)8] 1 containing four 2-pyCH2O-bridged ligands (hmp) is described along with its remarkable application in a photoelectrochemical cell (PEC) as an efficient anodic material for solar water splitting. The catalyst assembly undergoes light-driven water oxidation at pH 13.5 in a 1M in NaOH. With illumination using a white light source of 100 mW cm−2, photocurrents of up to 0.44 mA cm−2 were observed under 0.95 V vs Ag/AgCl applied bias with a Faradaic efficiency for O2 production of 91.9 %. The result establishes cluster 1 as an important candidate for electrodes in photocatalytic water splitting. © 2021