Electrochemical Study of [Ni 6 (μ 3 -Se) 2 μ 4 -Se) 3 (dppf) 3 ] Cluster and Its Catalytic Activity towards the Electrochemical Reduction of Carbon Dioxide

The redox behavior of a [Ni6(m3-Se)2(m4-Se)3(Fe(h5-C5H4P-Ph2)2)3] (= [Ni-Se-dppf], dppf = 1,1-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene) cluster was studied using platinum (Pt) and glassy carbon electrodes (GCE) in nonaqueous media. The cluster showed electrochemical activity at the potential range between +1.6 and 1.6 V. In the negative region (0 to 1.6 V), the cluster exhibited two-step reductions. The first step was one-electron reversible, while the second step was a five-electron quasi-reversible process. On the other hand, in the positive region (0 to +1.6 V), the first step involved one-electron quasi-reversible process. The applicability of the cluster was found towards the electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 and was evaluated by experiments using rotating ring disc electrode (RRDE). RRDE experiments demonstrated that two electrons were involved in the electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 to CO at the Se-Ni-dppf-modified electrode. KCI Citation Count: 3