Highly Efficient Oxidation of Water by a Molecular Catalyst Immobilized on Carbon Nanotubes

A successful team: A molecular device based on multiwalled carbon nanotubes functionalized by a mononuclear ruthenium catalyst has been shown to split water electrochemically (see picture; ITO=indium tin oxide). The readily prepared electrode showed excellent electrocatalytic activity for the oxidation of water, a high current density, and a low overpotential, and constitutes one step forward in the design of artificial photosynthetic systems.