Tuning electrochemical reactions via reaction field design

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22K14542
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 27030:Catalyst and resource chemical process-related
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: Katayama Yu 大阪大学, 産業科学研究所, 准教授 (70819284)
• Project Period (FY): 2022-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: ナノ反応場 / 電極触媒 / オペランド分光

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We have succeeded in synthesizing electrocatalysts in which catalytically active sites consisting of metal complexes are introduced between the layers of layered manganese oxides, and the layers are regarded as a reaction field (= nano reaction field). Specifically, in addition to using a single metal complex as the active site, we have succeeded in synthesizing electrocatalysts in which multiple metal complexes exist in a coexistent state. Furthermore, the interlayer environment during various electrochemical reactions was successfully observed using operando spectroscopy. These results led us to propose (1) a concerted reaction mechanism between adjacent active sites specific to nano-reaction fields and (2) the modulation effect of solvent on the hydrogen bonding network, as factors controlling the activity of electrocatalytic reactions in nano-reaction fields.

Free Research Field

電気化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究で設計に成功したナノ反応場は、電気化学反応に必要な要素（触媒、溶媒、第三体分子）が収容され、目的とする反応基質のみがアクセス可能な電気化学反応場である。ナノ反応場の設計が深化すれば、電気エネルギーによる物質変換（Power-to-X）を担う電気化学反応の理想形である「普遍的な原料から、所望の生成物のみを、必要最小限のエネルギーで得ること」の実現に一歩近づく。