Stability of metallo-porphyrin networks under oxygen reduction and evolution conditions in alkaline media

verfasst von
Diana Hötger, Markus Etzkorn, Claudius Morchutt, Benjamin Wurster, Jan Dreiser, Sebastian Stepanow, Doris Grumelli, Rico Gutzler, Klaus Kern
Abstract

Transition metal atoms stabilised by organic ligands or as oxides exhibit promising catalytic activity for the electrocatalytic reduction and evolution of oxygen. Built-up from earth-abundant elements, they offer affordable alternatives to precious-metal based catalysts for application in fuel cells and electrolysers. For the understanding of a catalyst's activity, insight into its structure on the atomic scale is of highest importance, yet commonly challenging to experimentally access. Here, the structural integrity of a bimetallic iron tetrapyridylporphyrin with co-adsorbed cobalt electrocatalyst on Au(111) is investigated using scanning tunneling microscopy and X-ray absorption spectroscopy. Topographic and spectroscopic characterization reveals structural changes of the molecular coordination network after oxygen reduction, and its decomposition and transformation into catalytically active Co/Fe (oxyhydr)oxide during oxygen evolution. The data establishes a structure-property relationship for the catalyst as a function of electrochemical potential and, in addition, highlights how the reaction direction of electrochemical interconversion between molecular oxygen and hydroxyl anions can have very different effects on the catalyst's structure.

Externe Organisation(en)
Max-Planck-Institut für Festkörperforschung
Technische Universität Braunschweig
École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)
Paul Scherrer Institut (PSI)
ETH Zürich
Universidad Nacional de La Plata
Typ
Artikel
Journal
Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics
Band
21
Seiten
2587-2594
Anzahl der Seiten
8
ISSN
1463-9076
Publikationsdatum
2019
Publikationsstatus
Veröffentlicht
Peer-reviewed
Ja
ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete
Physik und Astronomie (insg.), Physikalische und Theoretische Chemie
Elektronische Version(en)
https://doi.org/10.1039/c8cp07463a (Zugang: Offen)