Publication 704

J. Am. Chem. Soc., 134 (14), 6104-6107, 2012 DOI:10.1021/ja301134e
Boron-Capped Tris(glyoximato) Cobalt Clathrochelate as a Precursor for the Electrodeposition of Nanoparticles Catalyzing H2 Evolution in Water

Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Laboratoire d’Electrochimie Moléculaire, UMR 7591 CNRS, 15 rue Jean-Antoine de Baïf, F-75205 Paris Cedex 13, France
Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, UFR de Chimie, 15 rue Jean-Antoine de Baïf, F-75205 Paris Cedex 13, France

Electrochemical investigation of a boron-capped tris(glyoximato)cobalt clathrochelate complex in the presence of acid reveals that the catalytic activity toward hydrogen evolution results from an electrodeposition of cobalt-containing nanoparticles on the electrode surface at a modest cathodic potential. The deposited particles act as remarkably active catalysts for H₂ production in water at pH 7.