Synthesis, characterization, and electrocatalysis of a dinuclear cobalt(III) thioxanthate complex

Abstract

This study reports on the synthesis, characterization, and performance of a new dinuclear cobalt(III) thioxanthate complex of [Co2(μ-SC2H4OH)2(HOC2H4SCS2)4] as an electrocatalyst for trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and bromate reduction. Its structure was characterized by X-ray crystallography and elemental analysis. The structure contains two different anions of 2-sulfanylethanol thioxanthate and 2-sulfanylethanol. The electrochemical behavior and the electrocatalysis of the cobalt complex bulk-modified carbon paste electrode have been studied by cyclic voltammetry. It shows good electrocatalytic activities toward the reduction of TCA and bromate. The values for the detection limit and the sensitivity are 0.06 µmol L−1 and 19.40 µA µmol L−1 for TCA detection and 0.01 µmol L−1 and 177.6 µA µmol L−1 for bromate detection, respectively. This modified electrode exhibits good reproducibility, high stability, low detection limit and technical simplicity, and allows a possibility for rapid preparation, which is important for practical applications.