Oxygen electro-reduction catalysts for self-assembly on supports

A new strategy for making low cost, catalytic electrodes is being developed for fuel-cells and electrochemical sensors. The strategy is to synthesize a macrocyclic catalyst derivatized with a functional group (like phosphate or carboxylate), which has affinity for a metal-oxide/metal surface. The purpose of the functional group is to anchor the modified catalyst to the metal surface, thereby promoting the formation of a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of catalyst on a metal support. Syntheses are given for new ferrocene compounds and métallo porphyrins with anchor groups. The ferrocenes, which are relatively easy to synthesize, were made to learn how to form a stable SAM on a metal-oxide/metal surface. The metallo porphyrins were made for catalyzing oxygen electro-reduction with no platinum. Strategies for attaining an ideal catalytic electrode are discussed.