Water oxidation with mononuclear ru complexes. Below the tip of the iceberg: the oxo-bridge scenario

Identifier:  TDX:1286

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/TDX1286

Authors:  López Marín, Isidoro

Abstract:
Conversion of solar energy into clean fuels like H2 or MeOH represents one of the most promissory candidates in order to replace carbon-based energy resources. The development of a commercially available photoelectrochemical cell for water splitting requires an efficient catalyst on the anode to carry out the oxidation of water to dioxygen. This thesis focuses in the study of mononuclear Ru water oxidation catalysts with a special emphasis in the molecular pathways occurring during the catalytic process. We have achieved strong evidences showing that the current accepted mechanistic proposal is incomplete, thus the oxidation of mononuclear complexes produces a large set of strongly correlated oxo bridge Ru complexes that have remained unnoticed until now. It is worth noting the gradual formation of rugged oxo bridge dinuclearRu water oxidation catalysts from the oxidation of the initial mononuclear complexes.