Communication
Electrochemistry of Aqueous Pyridinium: Exploration of a Key Aspect of Electrocatalytic Reduction of CO2 to Methanol
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Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2013, 135 (38), pp 14020–14023
DOI: 10.1021/ja4064052
Publication Date (Web): August 23, 2013
Copyright © 2013 American Chemical Society
Abstract
The mechanism by which pyridinium (pyrH+) is reduced at a Pt electrode is a matter of recent controversy. The quasireversible cyclic voltammetric wave observed at −0.58 V vs SCE at a Pt electrode was originally proposed to correspond to reduction of pyrH+ to pyridinyl radical (pyrH•). This mechanistic explanation for the observed electrochemistry seems unlikely in light of recent quantum mechanical calculations that predict a very negative reduction potential (−1.37 V vs SCE) for the formation of pyrH•. Several other mechanisms have been proposed to account for the discrepancy in calculated and observed reduction potentials, including surface adsorption of pyrH•, reduction of pyrH+ by two electrons rather than one, and reduction of the pyrH+ proton to a surface hydride rather than a π-based radical product. This final mechanism, which can be described as inner-sphere reduction of pyrH+ to form a surface hydride, is consistent with experimental observations.
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