Electrocatalytic Reduction of CO2 into Formate with Glassy Carbon Modified by [Fe4N(CO)11(PPh2Ph-linker)]

Immobilization of molecular electrocatalysts with retention of catalytic activity is necessary if they will be incorporated into functional photoelectrochemical devices. Most often, immobilization diminishes catalytic performance. Glassy-carbon electrodes covalently modified with [Fe4N­(CO)12]− are active for electrocatalytic formate production from CO2 at −1.2 V vs SCE in aqueous solutions buffered at pH 5–9. The modified electrodes are stable for at least 4 days, as demonstrated using cyclic voltammetry experiments. Electrode modification was performed via cycloaddition of alkyne-functionalized [Fe4N­(CO)12]− with azide-modified glassy-carbon electrodes.