Redox Electrocatalysis of Floating Nanoparticles: Determining Electrocatalytic Properties without the Influence of Solid Supports

Abstract

Redox electrocatalysis (catalysis of electron-transfer reactions by floating conductive particles) is discussed from the point-of-view of Fermi level equilibration, and an overall theoretical framework is given. Examples of redox electrocatalysis in solution, in bipolar configuration, and at liquid-liquid interfaces are provided, highlighting that bipolar and liquid-liquid interfacial systems allow the study of the electrocatalytic properties of particles without effects from the support, but only liquid-liquid interfaces allow measurement of the electrocatalytic current directly. Additionally, photoinduced redox electrocatalysis will be of interest, for example, to achieve water splitting.

Gold Nanofilms at Liquid–Liquid Interfaces: An Emerging Platform for Redox Electrocatalysis, Nanoplasmonic Sensors, and Electrovariable Optics

“…As described in a recent review, electrocatalysis is catalysis of electron transfer at the electrode surface (catalyzed by the electrode material itself or by a catalyst attached to the electrode surface), while redox electrocatalysis is catalysis of electron transfer between two redox couples, catalyzed by a floating conductive catalyst. 125 Electrocatalysis and redox electrocatalysis are topics of pivotal importance impacting a huge variety of fields ranging from corrosion science, fuel cell and battery research, electro-organic synthesis, and electroanalytical sensor development to wastewater purification. 125,168 To optimize the performance of NPs toward electrocatalysis, a burgeoning area of research concerns support-induced effects.…”

Mediated water electrolysis in biphasic systems

“…3(C), blue trace . Glassy carbon and platinum disc electrodes were used as the working and counter electrodes respectively, while the reference electrode was a Ag + /Ag DJ-ORE. Pt or Pd salts at the interface in the presence of an oil-based electron donor) 15,29 or, more simply, by floating pre-formed H 2 evolution catalytic nanoparticles 20,[30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39] or nanocomposites [40][41][42] at the water-organic interface (Scheme 5(C)). These floating catalysts can significantly improve efficiency in terms of turnover frequency of [Cp 2 *Fe (III) ] + consumption/regeneration cycles.…”

Mechanistic Study on the Photogeneration of Hydrogen by Decamethylruthenocene

“…The hydrogen evolution rate can also be enhanced by functionalization of the liquid-liquidi nterface with solid catalysts. [32][33][34] The formal redoxp otentials of metallocenes in DCE solventa re summarized in Figure 2. Some scatteredw orks have also proposed the utilization of as ingle molecule to achievet he complex photocatalytic H 2 evolution process.…”