title: Cerium(III) Complex Modified Gold Electrode: An Efficient Electrocatalyst for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction.
abstract: Exploring efficient and inexpensive electrocatalysts for the oxidation of water is of great importance for various electrochemical energy storage and conversion technologies. In the present study, a new water-soluble [Ce(III)(DMF) (HSO4)3] complex was synthesized and characterized by UV-vis, photoluminescence, and high-resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy techniques. Owing to classic 5d → 4f transitions, an intense photoluminescence in the UV region was observed from the water-soluble [Ce(III)(DMF) (HSO4)3] complex. A stacking electrode was designed where self-assembled l-cysteine monolayer modified gold was immobilized with the synthesized cerium complex and was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry. The resulting electrode, i.e., [Ce(III)(DMF) (HSO4)3]-l-cysteine-Au stacks shows high electrocatalytic water oxidation behavior at an overpotential of η ≈ 0.34 V under neutral pH conditions. We also demonstrated a way where the overpotential is possible to decrease upon irradiation of UV light.
authors.affiliation: Organic Nano-Piezoelectric Device Laboratory, Department of Physics Jadavpur University Kolkata700032, India.
authors.forename: Samiran
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Garain
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Assam University , Silchar 788011, India.
authors.forename: Koushik
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Barman
authors.affiliation: Materials Science Centre, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) , Kharagpur 721302, India.
authors.forename: Tridib Kumar
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Sinha
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Assam University , Silchar 788011, India.
authors.forename: Sk
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jasimuddin
authors.affiliation: Brandenburgische Technische Universität Cottbus-Senftenberg , Angewandte Physik-Sensorik, K.-Wachsmann-Allee 17, 03046 Cottbus, Germany.
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Haeberle
authors.affiliation: Brandenburgische Technische Universität Cottbus-Senftenberg , Angewandte Physik-Sensorik, K.-Wachsmann-Allee 17, 03046 Cottbus, Germany.
authors.forename: Karsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Henkel
authors.affiliation: Brandenburgische Technische Universität Cottbus-Senftenberg , Angewandte Physik-Sensorik, K.-Wachsmann-Allee 17, 03046 Cottbus, Germany.
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schmeisser
authors.affiliation: Organic Nano-Piezoelectric Device Laboratory, Department of Physics Jadavpur University Kolkata700032, India.
authors.forename: Dipankar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mandal
keywords: Ce(III)-complex; electrocatalyst; gold electrode; l-cysteine; photoelectrocatalyst; photoluminescence; water oxidation