Bio-Inspired Stable {Co4O4} Molecular Catalyst for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction

Abstract

Developing stable and efficient molecular water oxidation catalysts is crucial for renewable energy conversion. Cubic {Co₄O₄} complexes are promising oxygen-evolution-reaction (OER) catalysts because they combine molecular precision with bio-inspired design, but their operational stability remains a challenge. Inspired by the oxygen-evolving complex of photosystem II, we immobilize {Co₄O₄} cubane oxo clusters within a conductive polymer. Using polypyrrole as a p-type conducting polymer enhances hole transport during OER, resulting in a higher turnover frequency than the pristine {Co₄O₄} cluster and cobalt oxide benchmarks. The asymmetric coordination further improves stability and catalytic efficiency by exposing an active cofacial dihydroxide motif.^[1]