Electrochemical reduction of oxygen and hydrogen peroxide catalyzed by a surface copper(II)-2,4,6-tris(2-piridil)-1,3,5-triazine complex adsorbed on a graphite electrode

The electrode adsorbed by [Cu(II)(TPT)]2+ complex showed electrocatalytic activity towards oxygen and/or hydrogen peroxide reductions. The catalyzed reduction of oxygen and hydrogen peroxide were identified as four-electron and two-electron process to form water. It is suggested that the possible electrocatalytic reductions were due to an inner-sphere mechanism, which involved a coordination between substrate (O2 or H2O2) and [Cu(I)(TPT)]+. The reduction kinetics were also investigated by a rotating disk electrode method.