Catalyst self-assembly accelerates bimetallic light-driven electrocatalytic H2 evolution in water.

Hydrogen evolution is an important fuel-generating reaction that has been subject to mechanistic debate about the roles of monometallic and bimetallic pathways. The molecular iridium catalysts in this study undergo photoelectrochemical dihydrogen (H2) evolution via a bimolecular mechanism, providing an opportunity to understand the factors that promote bimetallic H-H coupling. Covalently tethered diiridium catalysts evolve H2 from neutral water faster than monometallic catalysts, even at lower overpotential. The unexpected origin of this improvement is non-covalent supramolecular self-assembly into nanoscale aggregates that efficiently harvest light and form H-H bonds. Monometallic catalysts containing long-chain alkane substituents leverage the self-assembly to evolve H2 from neutral water at low overpotential and with rates close to the expected maximum for this light-driven water splitting reaction. Design parameters for holding multiple catalytic sites in close proximity and tuning catalyst microenvironments emerge from this work.

Photoenhanced Degradation of Sarin at Cu/TiO2 Composite Aerogels: Roles of Bandgap Excitation and Surface Plasmon Excitation.

Multifunctional composites that couple high-capacity adsorbents with catalytic nanoparticles (NPs) offer a promising route toward the degradation of organophosphorus pollutants or chemical warfare agents (CWAs). We couple mesoporous TiO2 aerogels with plasmonic Cu nanoparticles (Cu/TiO2) and characterize the degradation of the organophosphorus CWA sarin under both dark and illuminated conditions. Cu/TiO2 aerogels combine high dark degradation rates, which are facilitated by hydrolytically active sites at the Cu||TiO2 interface, with photoenhanced degradation courtesy of semiconducting TiO2 and the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of the Cu nanoparticles. The TiO2 aerogel provides a high surface area for sarin binding (155 m2 g-1), while the addition of Cu NPs increases the abundance of hydrolytically active OH sites. Degradation is accelerated on TiO2 and Cu/TiO2 aerogels with O2. Under broadband illumination, which excites the TiO2 bandgap and the Cu SPR, sarin degradation accelerates, and the products are more fully mineralized compared to those of the dark reaction. With O2 and broadband illumination, oxidation products are observed on the Cu/TiO2 aerogels as the hydrolysis products subsequently oxidize. In contrast, the photodegradation of sarin on TiO2 is limited by its slow initial hydrolysis, which limits the subsequent photooxidation. Accelerated hydrolysis occurs on Cu/TiO2 aerogels under visible illumination (>480 nm) that excites the Cu SPR but not the TiO2 bandgap, confirming that the Cu SPR excitation contributes to the broadband-driven activity. The high hydrolytic activity of the Cu/TiO2 aerogels combined with the photoactivity upon TiO2 bandgap excitation and Cu SPR excitation is a potent combination of hydrolysis and oxidation that enables the substantial chemical degradation of organophorphorus compounds.

Power of Aerogel Platforms to Explore Mesoscale Transport in Catalysis.

We describe the opportunity to deploy aerogels-an ultraporous nanoarchitecture with co-continuous networks of meso/macropores and covalently bonded nanoparticulates-as a platform to address the nature of the electronic, ionic, and mass transport that underlies catalytic activity. As a test case, we fabricated Au||TiO2 junctions in composite guest-host aerogels in which ∼5 nm Au nanoparticles are incorporated either directly into the anatase TiO2 network (Au "in" TiO2, AuIN-TiO2 aerogel) or deposited onto preformed TiO2 aerogel (Au "on" TiO2, AuON/TiO2 aerogel). The metal-meets-oxide nanoscale interphase as visualized by electron tomography feature extended three-dimensional (3D) interfaces, but AuIN-TiO2 aerogels impose a greater degree of Au contact with TiO2 particles than does the AuON/TiO2 form. Both aerogel variants enable transport of electrons over micrometer-scale distances across the TiO2 network to Au||TiO2 junctions, as evidenced by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and ultrafast visible pump-IR probe time-resolved absorption spectroscopy. The siting of gold nanoparticles in the TiO2 network more effectively disperses trapped electrons. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations find that increased physical contact between Au and TiO2, induced by oxygen vacancies, produces increased hybridization of midgap states and quenches unpaired trapped electrons. We assign the apparent differences in electron-transport capabilities to a combination of the relatively better-wired Au||TiO2 junctions in AuIN-TiO2 aerogels, which have a greater capacity to dilute accumulated charge over a larger interfacial surface area, with an enhanced ability to discharge the accumulated electrons via catalytic reduction of adsorbed O2 to O2- at the interface. Solid-state 1H nuclear magnetic resonance experiments show that proton spin-lattice relaxation times and possibly proton diffusion are strongly coupled to Au||TiO2 interfacial design, likely through spin coupling of protons to unpaired electrons trapped at the TiO2 network. Taken together, our results show that Au||TiO2 interfacial design strongly impacts charge carrier (electron and proton) transport over mesoscale distances in catalytic aerogel architectures.

Mechanistic basis for tuning iridium hydride photochemistry from H2 evolution to hydride transfer hydrodechlorination.

The photochemistry of metal hydride complexes is dominated by H2 evolution, limiting access to reductive transformations based on photochemical hydride transfer. In this article, the innate H2 evolution photochemistry of the iridium hydride complexes [Cp*Ir(bpy-OMe)H]+ (1, bpy-OMe = 4,4'-dimethoxy-2,2'-bipyridine) and [Cp*Ir(bpy)H]+ (2, bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine) is diverted towards photochemical hydrodechlorination. Net hydride transfer from 1 and 2 to dichloromethane produces chloromethane with high selectivity and exceptional photochemical quantum yield (Φ ≤ 1.3). Thermodynamic and kinetic mechanistic studies are consistent with a non-radical-chain reaction sequence initiated by "self-quenching" electron transfer between excited state and ground state hydride complexes, followed by proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) hydrodechlorination that outcompetes H-H coupling. This unique photochemical mechanism provides a new hope for the development of light-driven hydride transfer reactions.

Stabilization of reduced copper on ceria aerogels for CO oxidation.

Photodeposition of Cu nanoparticles on ceria (CeO2) aerogels generates a high surface area composite material with sufficient metallic Cu to exhibit an air-stable surface plasmon resonance. We show that balancing the surface area of the aerogel support with the Cu weight loading is a critical factor in retaining stable Cu0. At higher Cu weight loadings or with a lower support surface area, Cu aggregation is observed by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Analysis of Cu/CeO2 using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy finds a mixture of Cu2+, Cu+, and Cu0, with Cu+ at the surface. At 5 wt% Cu, Cu/CeO2 aerogels exhibit high activity for heterogeneous CO oxidation catalysis at low temperatures (94% conversion of CO at 150 °C), substantially out-performing Cu/TiO2 aerogel catalysts featuring the same weight loading of Cu on TiO2 (20% conversion of CO at 150 °C). The present study demonstrates an extension of our previous concept of stabilizing catalytic Cu nanoparticles in low oxidation states on reducing, high surface area aerogel supports. Changing the reducing power of the support modulates the catalytic activity of mixed-valent Cu nanoparticles and metal oxide support.

Excited-State Switching between Ligand-Centered and Charge Transfer Modulated by Metal-Carbon Bonds in Cyclopentadienyl Iridium Complexes.

Three series of pentamethylcyclopentadienyl (Cp*) Ir(III) complexes with different bidentate ligands were synthesized and structurally characterized, [Cp*Ir(tpy)L] n+ (tpy = 2-tolylpyridinato; n = 0 or 1), [Cp*Ir(piq)L] n+ (piq = 1-phenylisoquinolinato; n = 0 or 1), and [Cp*Ir(bpy)L] m+ (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine; m = 1 or 2), featuring a range of monodentate carbon-donor ligands within each series [L = 2,6-dimethylphenylisocyanide; 3,5-dimethylimidazol-2-ylidene (NHC); methyl)]. The spectroscopic and photophysical properties of these molecules and those of the photocatalyst [Cp*Ir(bpy)H]+ were examined to establish electronic structure-photophysical property relationships that engender productive photochemical reactivity of this hydride and its methyl analogue. The Ir(III) chromophores containing ancillary CNAr ligands exhibited features anticipated for predominantly ligand-centered (LC) excited states, and analogues bearing the NHC ancillary exhibited properties consistent with LC excited states containing a small admixture of metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) character. However, the molecules featuring anionic and strongly σ-donating methyl or hydride ligands exhibited photophysical properties consistent with a high degree of CT character. Density functional theory calculations suggest that the lowest energy triplet states in these complexes are composed of a mixture of MLCT and ligand-to-ligand CT originating from both the Cp* and methyl or hydride ancillary ligands. The high degree of CT character in the triplet excited states of methyliridium complexes bearing C^N-cyclometalated ligands offer a striking contrast to the photophysical properties of pseudo-octahedral structures fac-Ir(C^N)3 or Ir(C^N)2(acac) that have lowest-energy triplet excited states characterized as primarily LC character with a more moderate MLCT admixture.

Solvent-Dependent Thermochemistry of an Iridium/Ruthenium H2 Evolution Catalyst.

The hydricity of the heterobimetallic iridium/ruthenium catalyst [Cp*Ir(H)(µ-bpm)Ru(bpy)2]3+ (1, where Cp* = η5-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl, bpm = 2,2'-bipyrimidine, and bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine) has been determined in both acetonitrile (63.1 kcal mol-1) and water (29.7 kcal mol-1). Hydride 1 features a large increase in the hydride donor ability when the solvent is changed from acetonitrile to water. The acidity of 1, in contrast, is essentially solvent-independent because 1 remains strongly acidic in both solvents. On the basis of an X-ray crystallographic study, spectroscopic analysis, and time-dependent density functional theory calculations, the disparate reactivity trends are ascribed to substantial delocalization of the electron density onto both the bpm and bpy ligands in the conjugate base of 1, [Cp*Ir(µ-bpm)Ru(bpy)2]2+ (3). The H2 evolution tendencies of 1 are considered in the context of thermodynamic parameters.

Efficient Photochemical Dihydrogen Generation Initiated by a Bimetallic Self-Quenching Mechanism.

Artificial photosynthesis relies on coupling light absorption with chemical fuel generation. A mechanistic study of visible light-driven H2 production from [Cp*Ir(bpy)H]+ (1) has revealed a new, highly efficient pathway for integrating light absorption with bond formation. The net reaction of 1 with a proton source produces H2, but the rate of excited state quenching is surprisingly acid-independent and displays no observable deuterium kinetic isotopic effect. Time-resolved photoluminescence and labeling studies are consistent with diffusion-limited bimetallic self-quenching by electron transfer. Accordingly, the quantum yield of H2 release nearly reaches unity as the concentration of 1 increases. This unique pathway for photochemical H2 generation provides insight into transformations catalyzed by 1.

Thermodynamic Hydricity of Transition Metal Hydrides.

Transition metal hydrides play a critical role in stoichiometric and catalytic transformations. Knowledge of free energies for cleaving metal hydride bonds enables the prediction of chemical reactivity, such as for the bond-forming and bond-breaking events that occur in a catalytic reaction. Thermodynamic hydricity is the free energy required to cleave an M-H bond to generate a hydride ion (H(-)). Three primary methods have been developed for hydricity determination: the hydride transfer method establishes hydride transfer equilibrium with a hydride donor/acceptor pair of known hydricity, the H2 heterolysis method involves measuring the equilibrium of heterolytic cleavage of H2 in the presence of a base, and the potential-pKa method considers stepwise transfer of a proton and two electrons to give a net hydride transfer. Using these methods, over 100 thermodynamic hydricity values for transition metal hydrides have been determined in acetonitrile or water. In acetonitrile, the hydricity of metal hydrides spans a range of more than 50 kcal/mol. Methods for using hydricity values to predict chemical reactivity are also discussed, including organic transformations, the reduction of CO2, and the production and oxidation of hydrogen.

Aqueous Hydricity of Late Metal Catalysts as a Continuum Tuned by Ligands and the Medium.

Aqueous hydride transfer is a fundamental step in emerging alternative energy transformations such as H2 evolution and CO2 reduction. "Hydricity," the hydride donor ability of a species, is a key metric for understanding transition metal hydride reactivity, but comprehensive studies of aqueous hydricity are scarce. An extensive and self-consistent aqueous hydricity scale is constructed for a family of Ru and Ir hydrides that are key intermediates in aqueous catalysis. A reference hydricity is determined using redox potentiometry and spectrophotometric titration for a particularly water-soluble species. Then, relative hydricity values for a range of species are measured using hydride transfer equilibria, taking advantage of expedient new synthetic procedures for Ru and Ir hydrides. This large collection of hydricity values provides the most comprehensive picture so far of how ligands impact hydricity in water. Strikingly, we also find that hydricity can be viewed as a continuum in water: the free energy of hydride transfer changes with pH, buffer composition, and salts present in solution.

Photoswitchable hydride transfer from iridium to 1-methylnicotinamide rationalized by thermochemical cycles.

Visible light-triggered hydride transfer from [Cp*Ir(bpy)(H)](+) (1) to organic acids and 1-methylnicotinamide (MNA(+)) is reported (Cp* = pentamethylcyclopentadienyl; bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine). A new thermochemical cycle for determining excited-state hydride donor ability (hydricity) predicted that 1 would be an incredibly potent photohydride in acetonitrile. Phototriggered H2 release was indeed observed from 1 in the presence of various organic acids, providing experimental evidence for an increase in hydricity of at least 18 kcal/mol in the excited state. The rate and product selectivity of hydride transfer to MNA(+) are photoswitchable: 1,4-dihydro-1-methylnicotinamide forms slowly in the dark but rapidly under illumination, and photolysis can also produce doubly reduced 1,4,5,6-tetrahydro-1-methylnicotinamide.