Project Details
Projekt
Study of Hydrogen Evolution by a Series of Metal-Mabiq complexes
Subject Area
Inorganic Molecular Chemistry - Synthesis and Characterisation
Term
from 2016 to 2020
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 319960088
The project focuses on a family of macrocyclic metal complexes, and their ability to act as catalysts for hydrogen production. Hydrogen is a promising fuel alternative. However, the realization of hydrogen as an alternate fuel demands the development of efficient, economical catalysts for its production. Significant advances have been made toward the development of late first-row transition metal electrocatalysts for this reaction. Yet aspects of the reaction mechanism remain unresolved, and catalyst features still need to be optimized, warranting further research and new catalyst platforms. We herein describe studies to examine, in detail, electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution by a series of metal compounds coordinated by a unique redox-active macrocyclic ligand, Mabiq. The project consists of in-depth mechanistic and structure-function studies, with the following key objectives:1. to examine the catalytic performance of cobalt-Mabiq complexes;2. to identify the available pathway(s) for hydrogen evolution by the Co-Mabiq complexes, and associated reaction intermediates;3. to investigate structural contributions to catalyst reactivity, by additionally examining complexes containing Fe and Ni, and modified ligands;4. to explore the coordination chemistry of an available second metal binding site of our ligand, including an initial examination of its influence on catalysis.The project will employ a combination of synthetic, electrochemical and spectroscopic methods, and reactivity studies.The research aims to address unsettled aspects of the hydrogen evolution reaction mechanism, and to contribute to the design of enhanced catalysts.
DFG Programme
Research Grants
