Senior Investigators: Prof. Karen Goldberg (U. Wash.), Prof. Jim Mayer (U. Wash.).

Molecular oxygen, O₂, is the greenest, most abundant and inexpensive oxidant imaginable. Conversely, efficient oxidation of water to O₂ is a logical, green source of electrons needed for production of fuels and is the most challenging catalytic aspect of the conversion of solar energy to fuels (artificial photosynthesis). CENTC is working to develop and understand homogeneous electrocatalysts based on earth-abundant first-row transition metals, particularly based on biomimetic copper chemistry. We have discovered that copper(II) bis(mu-hydroxo) complexes with bipyridine ligands are promising catalysts for the electrocatalytic oxidation of water.

Patents and Published Papers:

Waidmann, C. R.; Miller, A. J. M.; Ng, C.-W.A.; Scheuermann, M. L.; Porter, T. R.; Tronic, T. A.; Mayer, J. M., "Using Combinations of Oxidants and Bases as PCET Reactants: Thermochemical and Practical Considerations", Energy Envir. Sci., 2012,  Advance Article.
(DOI:10.1039/c2ee03300c)

Mayer, J. M.; Barnett, S.; Goldberg, K. I. "Copper-bipyridine catalysts for water oxidation", U.S. provisional patent filed 10/25/10.

Warren, J. J.; Tronic, T. A.; Mayer, J. M., "Thermochemistry of Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer Reagents and its Implications", Chem. Rev., 2010, 110, 6961-7001.
(DOI:10.1021/cr100085k)

Williams, D. Bridget; Kaminsky, Werner; Mayer, James M.; Goldberg, Karen I., “Reactions of Iridium Hydride Pincer Complexes with Dioxygen: New Peroxo Complexes and Reversible O₂ Binding” Chemical Communications, 2008, 35, 4195-4197 (DOI: 10.1039/b802739k)

Look, J. L.; Wick, D. D.; Mayer, J. M.; Goldberg, K. I. "Autoxidation of Platinum(IV) Hydrocarbyl Hydride Complexes to Form Platinum(IV) Hydrocarbyl Hydroperoxide Complexes", Inorg. Chem., 2009, 48, 1356-1369. (DOI: 10.1021/ic801216r)