On the Mechanism of Dioxygen Electroreduction at Transition Metal meso-Tetrakis Pyridyl Porphyrins—a Comparative Spectroelectrochemical Study

Abstract

<jats:p> The mode of interaction with and the mechanism of the dioxygen reduction reaction at six transition metal α,β,γ,δ-tetra(4-pyridyl)porphyrins (MeTPyPs) deposited on carbon and silver supporting electrodes were investigated with cyclic voltammetry, FTIR and UV-vis spectroscopy and resonance Raman spectroscopy. Results indicate a strong influence of both the ligand and the central metal ion upon the reduction electrocatalysis in terms of electrode overpotentials. Spectroelectrochemical results support a two-electron pathway resulting in hydrogen peroxide as the primary reduction product. A significant influence of the central ion on the vibrational behaviour and the dioxygen reduction mechanism was not found. </jats:p>