Electrocatalytic oxidation of water by the immobilized [CuII(l-ala)(Phen)(H2O)]+ complex on a self-assembled NCS- modified gold electrode

Abstract

Copper(ii) complex [CuII(l-ala)(Phen)(H2O)]+ (l-ala = l-phenylalanine, phen = phenanthroline) was immobilized over a self-assembled NCS- modified gold electrode for the electrocatalytic oxidation of water. This surface anchored molecular complex can catalyze water oxidation reaction at a remarkably low overpotential of 327 mV with a current density of 0.5 mA cm-2 at neutral pH.