Noncovalent Immobilization of Co(II)porphyrin through Axial Coordination as an Enhanced Electrocatalyst on Carbon Electrode for Oxygen Reductions and Evolutions

Catalysis of fuel-producing reactions can be transferred from homogeneous solution to surface via attachment of the molecular catalyst. A pyrene-pyridine hybrid (Py-Py) was used as an axial ligand to bridge Co(II)tetraphenylporphyrin which was finally immobilized on carbon nanotubes via noncovalent interactions and further deposited on glassy carbon. This noncovalent immobilization of Co(II)porphyrin through axial coordination provides significantly enhanced electrochemically catalyzed oxygen reductions and oxygen evolutions, illustrating a new insight into understanding surface catalysis.