Characterization of a porphyrin-functionalized conducting polymer: A first step towards sustainable electrocatalysis

Abstract

The climate crisis has created a demand for molecular catalysts that can drive redox reactions for production of sustainable fuels. To this end, we present the design, synthesis and characterization of a conducting polymer backbone functionalized with free base porphyrin pendant groups. Combining intrinsic charge transport with catalytic prospect, this system offers possibilities of molecular heterogeneous electrocatalysis with straightforward energy supply and product extraction. Using cyclic voltammetry and spectroelectrochemistry, we show that the polymerized system is stable, and that the properties of the polymer and the porphyrins are independently preserved. With in-situ conductance measurements, we demonstrate that polaronic charge transport through the polymer backbone is superimposed by redox conductivity through the porphyrin pendant groups. These results suggest that our system is a reliable fundamental structure suitable for tuning towards heterogeneous catalysis of redox reactions.