Redox “Innocence” of Re(I) in Electrochemical CO2 Reduction Catalyzed by Nanographene–Re Complexes

Abstract

Improving energy efficiency of electrocatalytic CO2 conversion to useful chemicals poses a significant scientific challenge. Recently we reported on using a colloidal nanographene as the diimine ligand to form a molecular complex Re(diimine)(CO)3Cl to tackle this challenge, leading to significantly improved CO2 reduction potential. In this work, we use theoretical computations to investigate the roles of the nanographene ligand in the reduction and the reaction pathways. Remarkably, our results show that the metal center merely provides a binding site for CO2 and a conduit for electron transfer between the nanographene ligand and the substrate instead of changing its own oxidation state in the processes. Thus, despite its multiple oxidation states, the Re is redox "innocent" in the CO2 reduction catalyzed by the nanographene complex.