Abstract:
A copper containing polyoxometalate (POM) Cu
5(OH)
4(H
2O)
2(A-a-SiW
9O
33)
210- (compound1) was synthesized and characterized. Compound 1 was tested as the first catalyst for O
2 production via electrocatalytic water oxidation. Meanwhile, compound 1 shows oxygen evolution activity and excellent stability in an acidic medium (pH=4.2). Multiple experiments including cyclic voltammetry, bulk water electrolysis, scanning electron microscope and energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry measurements results confirm that the difference of the catalytic water oxidation activity and catalytic behavior using compound 1 and CuCl
2 is compelling evidence that compound 1 is a true active species in the electrocatalytic system.