Pivotal Role of Geometry Regulation on O-O Bond Formation Mechanism of Bimetallic Water Oxidation Catalysts

In this study, we highlight the impact of catalyst geometry on the formation of O-O bonds in Cu2 and Fe2 catalysts. A series of Cu2 complexes with diverse linkers are designed as electrocatalysts for water oxidation. Interestingly, the catalytic performance of these Cu2 complexes is enhanced as their molecular skeletons become more rigid, which contrasts with the behavior observed in our previous investigation with Fe2 analogs. Moreover, mechanistic studies reveal that the reactivity of the bridging O atom results in distinct pathways for O-O bond formation in Cu2 and Fe2 catalysts. In Cu2 systems, the coupling takes place between a terminal CuIII-OH and a bridging mu-O & sdot; radical. Whereas in Fe2 systems, it involves the coupling of two terminal Fe-oxo entities. Furthermore, an in-depth structure-activity analysis uncovers the spatial geometric prerequisites for the coupling of the terminal OH with the bridging mu-O & sdot; radical, ultimately leading to the O-O bond formation. Overall, this study emphasizes the critical role of precisely adjusting the spatial geometry of catalysts to align with the O-O bonding pathway. Does proximity make a difference? The progression of O-O bond formation through an oxyl/hydroxide coupling in water oxidation catalyzed by Cu2 complexes is greatly influenced by the catalyst's geometry.image