Electrocatalytic water oxidation properties of transition metal polynuclear compound Cu4

doi:10.7503/cjcu20250361

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Electrocatalytic water oxidation properties of transition metal polynuclear compound Cu₄

LIN Mingsui¹, WANG Qilong¹, LIANG Qingqing¹, CHEN Qiao¹, LAI Huiwen¹, CHEN Xueying¹, GUO Xinying¹, MA Zhanwen¹, LAI Anqun^1*, PAN Zhonghua^1*, XIAO Wangchuan^2*

1. School of Resources and Chemical Engineering,Sanming University 2. Fujian Engineering Research Center of Advanced Fluorine-containing Materials

Received:2025-11-28 Revised:2026-02-08 Online First:2026-02-09 Published:2026-02-09
Contact: Zhong-Hua PAN E-mail:xwc@fjsmu.edu.cn
Supported by:
Supported by the Fujian Provincial University-Industry-Research Collaboration Project (No. 2023H6021), the Central Government-Guided Local Science and Technology Development Fund Project (No. 2023L3016), Fujian Provincial Natural Science Foundation (Nos. 2024J01313, 2025J011045), the Regional Development Project of Fujian Province (No. 2025Y3004), and Sanming Science and Technology Project (No. 2024-G-004)

1. ESM to 20250361.pdf(1416KB)

Abstract

Abstract: A cubane-like tetranuclear copper(II) complex Cu4 was synthesized using 2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde and 2-amino-3-phenylpropanol as ligands. Its performance as a homogeneous electrocatalyst for the water oxidation reaction was systematically evaluated. Cu4 exhibited high catalytic activity, achieving a remarkable turnover frequency (TOF) of 119 s-1 at an applied potential of 1.75 V (vs. NHE) with a Faradaic efficiency of 88.2%. This high performance is attributed to the readily accessible bimetallic synergistic catalytic sites within the Cu4 core. These sites facilitate efficient catalysis while circumventing the formation of high-valent metal intermediates. This study provides insights into the multi-electron/multi-proton processes of water oxidation and demonstrates the effectiveness of a polymetallic cooperative strategy in modulating O-O bond formation, offering new perspectives for designing next-generation efficient water oxidation catalysts. CCDC: 2501687, Cu4.

Key words: Transition metal polynuclear compound, Molecular catalysts, Electrocatalysis; Synergistic-catalysis effect, Water oxidation

CLC Number:

O614.12

TrendMD:

LIN Mingsui, WANG Qilong, LIANG Qingqing, CHEN Qiao, LAI Huiwen, CHEN Xueying, GUO Xinying, MA Zhanwen, LAI Anqun, PAN Zhonghua, XIAO Wangchuan. Electrocatalytic water oxidation properties of transition metal polynuclear compound Cu₄[J]. Chem. J. Chinese Universities, doi: 10.7503/cjcu20250361.

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Electrocatalytic water oxidation properties of transition metal polynuclear compound Cu₄

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