Electrocatalysis of molecularly defined systems
Table of contents
CO2 reduction reaction
Electrocatalysis in enzyme-like systems can be of greatest value, for example, to establish the first step of CO2 reduction to CO and H2. In this context, the second coordination sphere often present in enzyme-like systems can significantly improve catalytic efficiency and product selectivity as an anchor site for protons. We are investigating enzyme-like 'hangman' complexes that have such a second coordination sphere.
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Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR)
Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR ) plays a key role in all types of fuel cells and metal-air batteries. However, the reaction efficiency is limited by the kinetics of electron and proton transfer and by the competitive reaction to hydrogen peroxide. Only a very defined sequence of electron transfer, oxygen transformation and proton translocation achieves the highest efficiency compared to the natural cytochrome c oxidase. Based on the understanding of the natural processes, we design new molecular systems for ORR.
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Hydrogen evolution reaction (HER)
Hydrogen from renewable energy sources has the potential to become the fuel of the future. For large-scale use, new catalysts are needed that do not require precious materials such as platinum and can be used in difficult environments. To this end, we are investigating, among other things, molecular porphyrins with metal centers and conjugated acetylenic polymers.
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Organic Frameworks and 2D-Materials
Organic framework compounds are porous coordination networks composed of metallic or covalently bonding clusters and bridging organic ligands. A large variety of materials with 3D or 2D structures are known. Due to their modular structure, these networks can be designed specifically for certain applications and therefore offer enormous potential for many technological areas such as electrocatalysis, (opto)electronics, energy storage, separation or sensing.
In addition to the electrocatalytic capabilities of such materials, we are particularly interested in the mechanistic elucidation of their functionality based on vibrational spectroscopy methods such as SERS / SERRS and SEIRA.
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