Electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 by thiophene-substituted rhenium(i) complexes and by their polymerized films

Abstract

Three novel thiophene substituted bipyridine ligands and their corresponding rhenium complexes were synthesized and tested for the electrocatalytic reduction of CO₂. Two complexes underwent oxidative electropolymerization on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) surface. The conductive polymers chemically deposited on the GCE allow electron transport from the surface to the polymer-attached rhenium catalytic center in contact with the solution. The chemically modified electrodes show significant catalytic activities for CO₂ reduction, and moderate relative higher stabilities when compared with the homogeneous solution counterparts.