Hybrid photoanodes based on precious metal-free materials

The water oxidation reaction is a crucial step in overall water splitting, wherein a series of proton and electron transfer events must occur before the formation of the pivotal O–O bond.

Usually, this can be achieved by utilizing platinum group metal compounds as catalysts capable to attain higher oxidation states.

In this project, I introduce a groundbreaking approach to catalytic water oxidation, harnessing high-valent first-row transition metals to activate water molecule. At the heart of this project lies a conceptually new family of molecular catalysts obtained via template synthesis.

The proposed polyhydrazide ligands are extremely robust and can stabilize high oxidation states of the encapsulated metals (MnIV, FeIV, CuIII) that is the key to high activity and long life of the catalytic system.

This project will progress beyond state-of-the-art by combining the molecular high-valent metal complexes with wide-bandgap semiconductor materials as light harvesters in order to fabricate and investigate hybrid photoanodes for water oxidation.

Intermediates relevant to catalytic reactions will be studied using spectroelectrochemistry methods, EPR, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy.

Transient spectroscopy experiments will be carried to monitor the electron-transfer kinetics in the hybrid assemblies.The applicant will devote 80% of time to this project and 20% to teaching. In addition, a PhD student position, co-financed via other grants of the applicant, will be announced.