Efficient Electrocatalytic Water Splitting by a Quinoline-Based Ruthenium(II) Complex Adsorbed on a TiO2 Electrode

Golbodaghi, Zahra; Nemati Bideh, Babak

doi:10.22036/cr.2025.530529.1281

Efficient Electrocatalytic Water Splitting by a Quinoline-Based Ruthenium(II) Complex Adsorbed on a TiO2 Electrode

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Zahra Golbodaghi

Babak Nemati Bideh

Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Petroleum Sciences, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran

10.22036/cr.2025.530529.1281

Abstract

A quinoline-based bidentate ligand and its corresponding new ruthenium (II) complex (namely RuQuin) were synthesized and characterized by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, FTIR, and LC-MS techniques. This complex showed quasi-reversible behavior at positive potentials, confirming its electrochemical stability in the solution. The electrocatalytic properties of this complex for the water splitting reaction were investigated by preparing an anode electrode with the structure of FTO/TiO2@ RuQuin. The study of the surface morphology of the prepared electrode by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) indicates proper and uniform distribution of the electrocatalyst on the surface of TiO2 nanoparticles. This complex illustrated significant activity for electrocatalytic water splitting in acidic buffer, such that at pH = 5, an overpotential of 450 mV and a current of 13 mA (at 2 V) were recorded for it. It also exhibited much greater stability in acidic and neutral media than in basic media.

Keywords

electrocatalytic water splitting

quinolinebased ligand

ruthenium(II) complex

TiO2 electrode

Subjects