Molecular Metal-Oxo Catalysts for Generating Hydrogen from Water

摘要

A composition of matter suitable for the generation of hydrogen from water is described, the positively charged cation of the composition having the general formula [(PY5W₂)MO]²⁺, wherein PYSW₂ is (NC₅XYZ)(NC₅H₄)₄C₂W₂, M is a transition metal, and W, X, Y, and Z can be H, R, a halide, CF₃, or SiR₃, where R can be an alkyl or aryl group. The two accompanying counter anions, in one embodiment, can be selected from the following Cl⁻, I⁻, PF₆⁻, and CF₃SO₃⁻. In embodiments of the invention, water, such as tap water containing electrolyte or straight sea water can be subject to an electric potential of between 1.0 V and 1.4 V relative to the standard hydrogen electrode, which at pH 7 corresponds to an overpotential of 0.6 to 1.0 V, with the result being, among other things, the generation of hydrogen with an optimal turnover frequency of ca. 1.5 million mol H₂/mol catalyst per h.