Influence of the backbone of N5-pentadentate ligands on the catalytic performance of Ni(ii) complexes for electrochemical water oxidation in neutral aqueous solutions†
Abstract
Two N5-chelated nickel complexes displayed decent catalytic activity and good stability for electrochemical water oxidation in phosphate buffer solutions at pH 7, with observed rate constants of 3.06 and 4.62 sā1, which are higher than those reported so far for molecular nickel catalysts in neutral solutions. The results revealed that the rigid backbone of N5-chelating ligands has a positive influence on the activity of the nickel catalysts.