SGER: Sol-gel Methods for the Support of Electroactive Catalysts

Wesleyan University, Middletown CT

Investigators

Abstract

Joseph Bruno, Department of Chemistry, Wesleyan University, is supported by the Inorganic, Bioinorganic and Organometallic Chemistry Program for research on new electrocatalysis systems. Bruno is exploring the use of sol-gel electrode coatings to support and isolate reactive transition metal hydrides. Metal hydrides are believed to be critical to water-splitting and other processes involving the transfer of hydrides. Initial catalysts to be explored include niobium and tantalum porphyrin complexes that readily form inactive species in solution. If these catalysts can be successfully isolated in the sol-gel electrode coating, the unproductive side reactions can be minimized or eliminated. This Small Grant for Exploratory Research (SGER) supports high risk/high impact research in electrocatalysis. The goal is to develop new catalysts and to test a system that can efficiently convert protons from water to dihydrogen. This conversion is an essential component of a hydrogen-based energy economy.