Electrocatalytic oxidation of water by the immobilized [CuII(L-ala)(Phen)(H2O)]+ complex on a self-assembled NCS− modified gold electrode

Copper(II) complex [CuII(L-ala)(Phen)(H2O)]+ (L-ala = L-phenylalanine, phen = phenanthroline) was immobilized over a self-assembled NCS− modified gold electrode for the electrocatalytic oxidation of water. This surface anchored molecular complex can catalyze water oxidation reaction at a remarkably low overpotential of 327 mV with a current density of 0.5 mA cm−2 at neutral pH.