We report the synthesis and structural characterization of a bimetallic zinc selenolate complex consisting of a redox silent zinc metal ion and a trifunctional ligand that electrocatalyzes the reduction of protons into hydrogen gas.

The development of alternative energy sources is the utmost priority of the developing society. Unlike many prior homogenous electrocatalysts that rely on the change in an oxidation state of metal center and or electrochemically active ligand, the synthesized novel bimetallic zinc selenolate complex consisting of redox inactive zinc metal ion and catalytically inactive ligand catalyzes the electrochemical oxygen evolution from the water with rate constant 7.28 s-1 at onset potential 1.028 V vs. NHE. On the other hand, the hydrogen evolution reaction proceeds with 47.32 s-1 observed rate constant and -0.256 V onset potential vs. NHE. DFT computations and control experiments suggest that the redox chemistry at selenium center, Lewis acidity, and cooperativity effect of two zinc atoms facilitate the electrochemical oxidation and reduction of water into oxygen and hydrogen, respectively.