Noncovalent Immobilization of Pentamethylcyclopentadienyl Iridium Complexes on Ordered Mesoporous Carbon for Electrocatalytic Water Oxidation

The attachment of molecular catalysts to conductive supports for the preparation solid-state anodes is important development devices electrocatalytic water oxidation. and characterization three cyclopentadienyl iridium(III) complexes, Cp*Ir(1-pyrenyl(2-pyridyl)ethanolate-κO,κN)Cl (1) (Cp* = pentamethylcyclopentadienyl), Cp*Ir(diphenyl(2-pyridyl)methanolate-κO,κN)Cl (2), [Cp*Ir(4-(1-pyrenyl)-2,2′-bipyridine)Cl]Cl (3), as precursors electrochemical oxidation catalysts, are reported. These complexes contain aromatic groups that can be attached via noncovalent π-stacking ordered mesoporous carbon (OMC). resulting iridium-based OMC materials (Ir-1, Ir-2, Ir-3) were tested leading turnover frequencies (TOFs) 0.9–1.6 s−1 at an overpotential 300 mV under acidic conditions. stability demonstrated by cycling X-ray absorption spectroscopy analysis before after catalysis. Theoretical studies on interactions between support provide insight onto binding in agreement with experimental loadings.