Electrocatalysis targets

The targets of electrocatalysis are at the basis of recent developments in the field of water electrolysis. First, it is necessary to distinguish between materials evaluation and materials selection. The former is the search for materials with better and better properties for the wanted electrode process. The latter implies global considerations of applicability. This is probably what makes academic research differ from R D. The former is favored by scientifically exciting performance, in the latter it is necessary to find a compromise between, for instance, activity and stability or between efficiency and economic convenience. 

In one of the most extraordinary successes of targeted molecular design in electrocatalysis, Collman and Anson discovered that layers of a dicobalt FTF porphyrin, denoted as Co2FTF 4—2, 1N-F1 (see Figure 3.56), adsorbed on graphite... 

The author s own interest in this area includes new functional polymers for solid phase synthesis [11-13], polymers with molecularly imprinted substrate selectivity [14], polymer-supported transition metal catalysts [15], novel polymers of potential interest for electrocatalysis [16], targeting of colloidal drug carriers [17, 18], molecular composites [19], and biocompatible surfaces [20]. These studies have led to, among other things, a uniquely versatile method of polymer synthesis based on the chemistry of activated acrylates, i.e. polymer synthesis via activated esters. Various aspects of polymers and copolymers of activated (meth)acrylates have also been investigated in this and several other laboratories. 

An important application of CyD complexes is in the field of mediated electrocatalysis and bioelectrocatalysis. Detection of a target analyte using a biosensor based on a redox enzyme is well recognized as a more convenient solution than one based on the electrochemistry of reaction products. An ideal mediator for electrocatalysis should be soluble in water or easily anchored on an electrode surface. CyDs have often been employed in solubilizing hydrophobic molecules used either as mediators in catalysis or occurring as the products of catalytic reactions. In the latter case, their role was to avoid fouling of the electrode surface. 

Figure 14.9. Scanning electron micrographs and schematic illustrations of 2D (A) and 3D (B) gold nanowire electrodes. (C) Modification of the gold nanowire electrodes with thiolated probe DNA, subsequent hybridization of target DNA, and detection via electrocatalysis of Ru(lll)/Fe(lll).

The main basic parameter of catalyst evaluation is the specific exchange current density which, by definition, is normalized to the unit surface area of the electrocatalyst. This property is the target of many fundamental studies in electrocatalysis, too numerous to be listed (Adzic et al., 2007 Debe, 2013 Gasteiger and Markovic, 2009 Kinoshita, 1992 Paulus et al., 2002 Stamenkovic et al., 2007a,b Tarasevich et al., 1983 Zhang et al., 2005, 2008). 

Mediated enzyme electrodes are currently found in commercially successful consumer products, and continue to be the subject of intense research. In the coming years, as humankind searches for solutions to important problems such as the efficient, inexpensive, and distributed production of energy, the high catalytic rates made possible by enzyme mediation hold much promise. The combination of enzyme cascades with mediation could make complex, targeted electrocatalysis economically useful. 

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