First Name:
Chris
Last Name:
Eubanks
Major Department:
Chemistry
Thesis Director:
Mike Hambourger
Date of Thesis:
May 2013
Technologies exist for the generation of electricity from renewable sources. However, the intermittent nature of these energy sources, most notably from wind and solar, mandates a means of energy storage.1-4 Hydrogen is a viable energy carrier that could enable a sustainable infrastructure. To achieve this goal, the development of efficient, inexpensive catalysts is essential. Bis(glyoximato) cobalt complexes, a.k.a. cobaloximes, are promising catalysts for the reduction of protons to molecular hydrogen.5-6 Catalytic activity has been demonstrated primarily in non-aqueous solutions. However, for renewable energy storage it is desirable to work in water near neutral pH.7-9 While a handful of reports exist, cobaloximes have not been well characterized under aqueous conditions, largely due to low solubility and instability in water. The purpose of this research was to immobilize cobaloximes on a carbon electrode, allowing testing of the catalytic activity in water. Surface-immobilization was achieved via axial coordination of the central cobalt ion to a surface-grafted pyridine group. However, the results have shown lability of the pyridyl ligand, precluding this methodology as a useful attachment strategy.