Water Oxidation by an Electropolymerized Catalyst on Derivatized Mesoporous Metal Oxide Electrodes

A general electropolymerization/electro-oligomerization
strategy
is described for preparing spatially controlled, multicomponent films
and surface assemblies having both light harvesting chromophores and
water oxidation catalysts on metal oxide electrodes for applications
in dye-sensitized photoelectrosynthesis cells (DSPECs). The chromophore/catalyst
ratio is controlled by the number of reductive electrochemical cycles.
Catalytic rate constants for water oxidation by the polymer films
are similar to those for the phosphonated molecular catalyst on metal
oxide electrodes, indicating that the physical properties of the catalysts
are not significantly altered in the polymer films. Controlled potential
electrolysis shows sustained water oxidation over multiple hours with
no decrease in the catalytic current.