Chemical Research in Chinese Universities ›› 1990, Vol. 6 ›› Issue (2): 102-109.

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Electrocatalysis of Metalloporphyrins(Ⅷ)——Electrocatalytic Reduction of Molecular Oxygen with Water-Soluble Cobalt (Ⅱ) Tetrakis(4-Trimethyl Ammonium Phenyl) Porphyrin Catalyst

Wang Zongli, Zhang Hui, Pang Daiwen   

  1. Department of Chemistry, Wuhan University, Wuhan
  • Received:1989-11-22 Online:1990-04-24 Published:2011-09-09

Abstract: Reported here is the electrocatalytic reduction of molecular oxygen in the presence of water-soluble cobalt(Ⅱ) tetrakis(4-trimethyl ammonium phenyl) porphyrin (Co(Ⅱ)TTAPP) as catalyst in solutions of various pHvalues. The overpotential of molecular oxygen reduction is reduced by ca. 200-400 mVin acidic and neutral solutions compared with several decades of millivolts in alkaline solutions, indicating that Co(Ⅱ)TTAPPpossesses much higher catalytic activity in acidic and neutral solutions than in alkaline. H2TTAPPin solutions of various pHexhibits no significant catalytic activity for oxygen reduction. The significant difference in the electrocatalytic activity of Co(Ⅱ)TTAPPfrom that of H2TTAPPfor oxygen reduction indicates that the electrocatalytic activity of Co(Ⅱ)TTAPPshould be attributed to the central cobalt atom (Co(Ⅱ)) coordinated by N4 internal ring in Co(Ⅱ)TTAPP. The total number of electrons involved in oxygen reduction electrocatalyzed by Co (Ⅱ)TTAPPis 2, and the product of such reaction is H2O2 or HO2-in solutions of various pH. The reaction mechanism of oxygen reduction in acidic and alkaline solutions is also discussed.

Key words: Electrocatalysis, Metalloporphyrins, Electrocatalytic reduction