Understanding the dynamics of molecular water oxidation catalysts with liquid phase transmission electron microscopy: the case of vitamin B12

Cobalt compounds are intensely explored as efficient catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Since vitamin B12 is a soluble cobalt compound with high enzymatic activity, evaluating its OER activity is of high relevance for bio-mimetic catalyst research. In this work, the temporal evolution of the homogenous vitamin B12 catalyst in the early stages of OER was investigated by an advanced combination of in situ electrochemical liquid transmission electron microscopy (EC-LTEM), in situ UV-vis spectroelectrochemistry, and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) methods. For the first time, we provided direct evidence of diffuse layer dynamics on the working electrode interface. The results suggested that the formation of cobalt oxyphosphate nanoparticles on the working electrode interface and in the presence of phosphate buffer is the initial stage of the catalytic pathway. Computational results confirmed that the ligand oxidation pathway could occur at potentials below the OER thermodynamic barrier (1.23 V vs. RHE), which leads to Co ion leaching into the electrolyte. This study showed that investigation of the apparent molecular mechanisms of OER with metal complexes requires careful analyses. We illustrate the high precision and sensitivity of EC-LTEM under operational conditions to monitor heterogeneous catalysts generated during OER and to evaluate their actual roles in the catalytic process.