title: Copper as a robust and transparent electrocatalyst for water oxidation.
abstract: Copper metal is in theory a viable oxidative electrocatalyst based on surface oxidation to Cu(III) and/or Cu(IV) , but its use in water oxidation has been impeded by anodic corrosion. The in situ formation of an efficient interfacial oxygen-evolving Cu catalyst from Cu(II) in concentrated carbonate solutions is presented. The catalyst necessitates use of dissolved Cu(II) and accesses the higher oxidation states prior to decompostion to form an active surface film, which is limited by solution conditions. This observation and restriction led to the exploration of ways to use surface-protected Cu metal as a robust electrocatalyst for water oxidation. Formation of a compact film of CuO on Cu surface prevents anodic corrosion and results in sustained catalytic water oxidation. The Cu/CuO surface stabilization was also applied to Cu nanowire films, which are transparent and flexible electrocatalysts for water oxidation and are an attractive alternative to ITO-supported catalysts for photoelectrochemical applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092 (China).
authors.forename: Jialei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Zuofeng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Shengrong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Benjamin J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Wiley
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Meyer
mesh_terms: D002254:Carbonates / Q000737:chemistry; D002384:Catalysis; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry*; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques; D004566:Electrodes; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D012996:Solutions; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D002254:Carbonates; D012996:Solutions; D014867:Water; D003300:Copper
keywords: copper; electrocatalysis; heterogeneous catalysis; transparent electrodes; water oxidation