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 [Cu^II(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.