Multistep photocatalytic reduction of dioxygen by immobilized [Ru(bpy)3]2+ in Nafion and cellulose matrices and macrocyclic cobalt(III) complexes

Abstract

The ruthenium(II) complex [Ru(bpy)3]2+, incorporated into Nafion (Nf) and cellulose (CL) matrices was used for the photosensitized reduction of macrocyclic cobalt(III) complexes. Photocatalytic reduction of oxygen (O2) to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was carried out by the reaction of the photoproduced cobalt(II) complex. The photoproduced [Ru(bpy)3]3+ complex was reduced by the sacrificial electron donor triethanolamine. High turnover numbers of [Ru(bpy)3]2+ at the membrane were observed. The multistep one-electron photoreduction of O2 to H2O2 in the Nf/[Ru(bpy)3]2+ and CL/[Ru(bpy)3]2+ systems was realized using macrocyclic cobalt(III) complexes as catalyst.