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Bagnall A, Eliasson N, Hansson S, Chavarot-Kerlidou M, Artero V, Tian H, Hammarström L. Ultrafast Electron Transfer from CuInS 2 Quantum Dots to a Molecular Catalyst for Hydrogen Production: Challenging Diffusion Limitations. ACS Catal 2024; 14:4186-4201. [PMID: 38510668 PMCID: PMC10949191 DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.3c06216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Systems integrating quantum dots with molecular catalysts are attracting ever more attention, primarily owing to their tunability and notable photocatalytic activity in the context of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR). CuInS2 (CIS) quantum dots (QDs) are effective photoreductants, having relatively high-energy conduction bands, but their electronic structure and defect states often lead to poor performance, prompting many researchers to employ them with a core-shell structure. Molecular cobalt HER catalysts, on the other hand, often suffer from poor stability. Here, we have combined CIS QDs, surface-passivated with l-cysteine and iodide from a water-based synthesis, with two tetraazamacrocyclic cobalt complexes to realize systems which demonstrate high turnover numbers for the HER (up to >8000 per catalyst), using ascorbate as the sacrificial electron donor at pH = 4.5. Photoluminescence intensity and lifetime quenching data indicated a large degree of binding of the catalysts to the QDs, even with only ca. 1 μM each of QDs and catalysts, linked to an entirely static quenching mechanism. The data was fitted with a Poissonian distribution of catalyst molecules over the QDs, from which the concentration of QDs could be evaluated. No important difference in either quenching or photocatalysis was observed between catalysts with and without the carboxylate as a potential anchoring group. Femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy confirmed ultrafast interfacial electron transfer from the QDs and the formation of the singly reduced catalyst (CoII state) for both complexes, with an average electron transfer rate constant of ≈ (10 ps)-1. These favorable results confirm that the core tetraazamacrocyclic cobalt complex is remarkably stable under photocatalytic conditions and that CIS QDs without inorganic shell structures for passivation can act as effective photosensitizers, while their smaller size makes them suitable for application in the sensitization of, inter alia, mesoporous electrodes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew
J. Bagnall
- Department
of Chemistry-Ångström Laboratory, Uppsala University, SE-75120 Uppsala, Sweden
- Univ.
Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, IRIG, Laboratoire de Chimie et Biologie
des Métaux, 17
rue des Martyrs, F-38054 Grenoble, Cedex, France
| | - Nora Eliasson
- Department
of Chemistry-Ångström Laboratory, Uppsala University, SE-75120 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Sofie Hansson
- Department
of Chemistry-Ångström Laboratory, Uppsala University, SE-75120 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Murielle Chavarot-Kerlidou
- Univ.
Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, IRIG, Laboratoire de Chimie et Biologie
des Métaux, 17
rue des Martyrs, F-38054 Grenoble, Cedex, France
| | - Vincent Artero
- Univ.
Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, IRIG, Laboratoire de Chimie et Biologie
des Métaux, 17
rue des Martyrs, F-38054 Grenoble, Cedex, France
| | - Haining Tian
- Department
of Chemistry-Ångström Laboratory, Uppsala University, SE-75120 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Leif Hammarström
- Department
of Chemistry-Ångström Laboratory, Uppsala University, SE-75120 Uppsala, Sweden
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Droghetti F, Amati A, Pascale F, Crochet A, Pastore M, Ruggi A, Natali M. Catalytic CO 2 Reduction with Heptacoordinated Polypyridine Complexes: Switching the Selectivity via Metal Replacement. CHEMSUSCHEM 2024; 17:e202300737. [PMID: 37846888 DOI: 10.1002/cssc.202300737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023]
Abstract
The discovery of molecular catalysts for the CO2 reduction reaction (CO2 RR) in the presence of water, which are both effective and selective towards the generation of carbon-based products, is a critical task. Herein we report the catalytic activity towards the CO2 RR in acetonitrile/water mixtures by a cobalt complex and its iron analog both featuring the same redox-active ligand and an unusual seven-coordination environment. Bulk electrolysis experiments show that the cobalt complex mainly yields formate (52 % selectivity at an applied potential of -2.0 V vs Fc+ /Fc and 1 % H2 O) or H2 (up to 86 % selectivity at higher applied bias and water content), while the iron complex always delivers CO as the major product (selectivity >74 %). The different catalytic behavior is further confirmed under photochemical conditions with the [Ru(bpy)3 ]2+ sensitizer (bpy=2,2'-bipyridine) and N,N-diisopropylethylamine as electron donor, where the cobalt complex leads to preferential H2 formation (up to 89 % selectivity), while the iron analog quantitatively generates CO (up to 88 % selectivity). This is ascribed to a preference towards a metal-hydride vs. a metal-carboxyl pathway for the cobalt and the iron complex, respectively, and highlights how metal replacement may effectively impact on the reactivity of transition metal complexes towards solar fuel formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Droghetti
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via L. Borsari 46, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Agnese Amati
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via L. Borsari 46, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Fabien Pascale
- Laboratoire de Physique et Chimie Théoretiques, University of Lorraine & CNRS, 54000, Nancy, France
| | - Aurélien Crochet
- Department of Chemistry, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 9, 1700, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Mariachiara Pastore
- Laboratoire de Physique et Chimie Théoretiques, University of Lorraine & CNRS, 54000, Nancy, France
| | - Albert Ruggi
- Department of Chemistry, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 9, 1700, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Mirco Natali
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via L. Borsari 46, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
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Droghetti F, Amati A, Ruggi A, Natali M. Bioinspired motifs in proton and CO 2 reduction with 3d-metal polypyridine complexes. Chem Commun (Camb) 2024; 60:658-673. [PMID: 38117176 DOI: 10.1039/d3cc05156k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
The synthesis of active and efficient catalysts for solar fuel generation is nowadays of high relevance for the scientific community, but at the same time poses great challenges. Critical requirements are mainly associated with the kinetic barriers due to the multi-proton and multi-electron nature of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and the CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) as well as to selectivity issues. In this regard, natural enzymes can be a source of inspiration for the design of effective and selective catalysts to target such fundamental reactions. In this Feature Article we review some recent works on molecular catalysts for both the HER and the CO2RR performed in our labs and other research teams which mainly address (i) the role of redox non-innocent ligands, to lower the overpotential for catalysis and control the selectivity, and (ii) the role of internal relays, to assist formation of catalytic intermediates via intramolecular routes. The selected exemplars have been chosen to emphasize that, although the molecular structures and the synthetic motifs are different from those of the active sites of natural enzymes, many affinities in terms of catalytic mechanism and functionality are instead present, which account for the observed remarkable performances under operative conditions. The data discussed herein thus demonstrate the great potential and the privileged role of molecular catalysts towards the design and construction of hybrid photochemical systems for solar energy conversion into fuels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Droghetti
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences (DOCPAS), University of Ferrara, Via L. Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy.
| | - Agnese Amati
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences (DOCPAS), University of Ferrara, Via L. Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy.
| | - Albert Ruggi
- Department of Chemistry, University of Fribourg, Chemin de Musée 9, CH-1700 Fribourg, Switzerland.
| | - Mirco Natali
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences (DOCPAS), University of Ferrara, Via L. Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy.
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Lucarini F, Fize J, Morozan A, Droghetti F, Solari E, Scopelliti R, Marazzi M, Natali M, Pastore M, Artero V, Ruggi A. Electro- and photochemical H 2 generation by Co(ii) polypyridyl-based catalysts bearing ortho-substituted pyridines. SUSTAINABLE ENERGY & FUELS 2023; 7:3384-3394. [PMID: 37441238 PMCID: PMC10334870 DOI: 10.1039/d3se00295k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
Cobalt(ii) complexes featuring hexadentate amino-pyridyl ligands have been recently discovered as highly active catalysts for the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER), whose high performance arises from the possibility of assisting proton transfer processes via intramolecular routes involving detached pyridine units. With the aim of gaining insights into such catalytic routes, three new proton reduction catalysts based on amino-polypyridyl ligands are reported, focusing on substitution of the pyridine ortho-position. Specifically, a carboxylate (C2) and two hydroxyl substituted pyridyl moieties (C3, C4) are introduced with the aim of promoting intramolecular proton transfer which possibly enhances the efficiency of the catalysts. Foot-of-the-wave and catalytic Tafel plot analyses have been utilized to benchmark the catalytic performances under electrochemical conditions in acetonitrile using trifluoroacetic acid as the proton source. In this respect, the cobalt complex C3 turns out to be the fastest catalyst in the series, with a maximum turnover frequency (TOF) of 1.6 (±0.5) × 105 s-1, but at the expense of large overpotentials. Mechanistic investigations by means of Density Functional Theory (DFT) suggest a typical ECEC mechanism (i.e. a sequence of reduction - E - and protonation - C - events) for all the catalysts, as previously envisioned for the parent unsubstituted complex C1. Interestingly, in the case of complex C2, the catalytic route is triggered by initial protonation of the carboxylate group resulting in a less common (C)ECEC mechanism. The pivotal role of the hexadentate chelating ligand in providing internal proton relays to assist hydrogen elimination is further confirmed within this novel class of molecular catalysts, thus highlighting the relevance of a flexible polypyridine ligand in the design of efficient cobalt complexes for the HER. Photochemical studies in aqueous solution using [Ru(bpy)3]2+ (where bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine) as the sensitizer and ascorbate as the sacrificial electron donor support the superior performance of C3.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jennifer Fize
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, IRIG, Laboratoire de Chimie et Biologie des Métaux 17 rue des Martyrs 38000 Grenoble France
| | - Adina Morozan
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, IRIG, Laboratoire de Chimie et Biologie des Métaux 17 rue des Martyrs 38000 Grenoble France
| | - Federico Droghetti
- Università degli Studi di Ferrara, Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche Farmaceutiche ed Agrarie (DOCPAS) Via L. Borsari 46 44121 Ferrara Italy
| | - Euro Solari
- Institut des Sciences et Ingénierie Chimique, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) 1015 Lausanne Switzerland
| | - Rosario Scopelliti
- Institut des Sciences et Ingénierie Chimique, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) 1015 Lausanne Switzerland
| | - Marco Marazzi
- Universidad de Alcalá, Departamento de Química Analítica, Química Física e Ingeniería Química, Grupo de Reactividad y Estructura Molecular (RESMOL) Alcalá de Henares Madrid Spain
- Universidad de Alcalá, Instituto de Investigación Química ''Andrés M. del Río'' (IQAR) Alcalá de Henares Madrid Spain
| | - Mirco Natali
- Università degli Studi di Ferrara, Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche Farmaceutiche ed Agrarie (DOCPAS) Via L. Borsari 46 44121 Ferrara Italy
| | - Mariachiara Pastore
- Université de Lorraine & CNRS, Laboratoire de Physique et Chimie Théoriques (LPCT) F-54000 Nancy France
| | - Vincent Artero
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, IRIG, Laboratoire de Chimie et Biologie des Métaux 17 rue des Martyrs 38000 Grenoble France
| | - Albert Ruggi
- Université de Fribourg Ch. du Musée 9 1700 Fribourg Switzerland
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Copper indium sulfide quantum dots in photocatalysis. J Colloid Interface Sci 2023; 638:193-219. [PMID: 36738544 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2023.01.107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Since the advent of photocatalytic technology, scientists have been searching for semiconductor materials with high efficiency in solar energy utilization and conversion to chemical energy. Recently, the development of quantum dot (QD) photocatalysts has attracted much attention because of their unique characteristics: small size, quantum effects, strong surface activity, and wide photoresponse range. Among ternary chalcogenide semiconductors, CuInS2 QDs are increasingly examined in the field of photocatalysis due to their high absorption coefficients, good matching of the absorption range with sunlight spectrum, long lifetimes of photogenerated electron-hole pairs and environmental sustainability. In this review paper, the structural and electronic properties, synthesis methods and various photocatalytic applications of CuInS2 QDs are systematically expounded. The current research status on the photocatalytic properties of materials based on CuInS2 QD is discussed combined with the existing modification approaches for the enhancement of their performances. Future challenges and new development opportunities of CuInS2 QDs in the field of photocatalysis are then prospected.
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