Iron and Cobalt Corroles in Solution and on Carbon Nanotubes as Molecular Photocatalysts for Hydrogen Production by Water Reduction

MORALES VÁSQUEZ, MIGUEL A.; HAMER, MARIANA; NEUMAN, NICOLÁS I.; TESIO, ALVARO Y.; HUNT, ANDRÉS; BOGO, HORACIO; CALVO, ERNESTO J.; DOCTOROVICH, FABIO

CHEMCATCHEM

WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH

Año: 2017 vol. 9 p. 3259 - 3268

1867-3880

Herein, we report the use of cobalt and iron corrole complexes as catalysts of H2O reduction to generate H2. Electro- and photocatalysis has been used in the case of dissolved corroles for water reduction with inspiring results. Carbon nanotubes doped with corroles were used as photo-electrochemical catalysts, with very low overpotential values and increased hydrogen production; incredibly high turnover numbers and turnover frequencies of approximately 107 and 105, respectively, were achieved. Through this last process, we were able to obtain 1 mmol of H2 by using minuscule amounts of catalyst, in the order of picograms. The reactions can be performed in water, without the need for organic solvents. Remarkably, the photo-electrochemical catalytic efficiency was increased by five orders of magnitude if the molecular catalysts were adsorbed onto carbon nanotubes.