Probing Oxygen Reduction Reaction Mechanism on Ni-Porphyrin Covalent Organic Polymer Catalysts via In-situ Synchrotron-FTIR Microspectroscopy (2026)
Abstract
This proposal aims to probe reaction intermediates on a nickel-porphyrin based covalent organic polymer single-atom catalyst (Ni-COP), during electrochemical hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) generation via the two-electron oxygen reduction reaction (2e? ORR). Using in-situ synchrotron-FTIR microspectroscopy, surface-bound *OOH, *OH, and other related intermediate species can be detected and monitored under working conditions. These insights will help elucidate how the Ni-N4 coordination environment of Ni-COP governs reaction selectivity. Understanding this underlying mechanism is critical for designing efficient and selective catalysts for decentralized, low-cost H2O2 production, supporting Australia's clean chemical manufacturing strategy and advancing the fundamental science of sustainability electrosynthesis.
