Direct Evidence for a Sequential Electron Transfer–Proton Transfer Mechanism in the PCET Reduction of a Metal Hydroxide Catalyst

The proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) mechanism for the reaction M_ox-OH + e^- + H⁺ → M_red-OH₂ was determined through the kinetic resolution of the independent electron transfer (ET) and proton transfer (PT) steps. The reaction of interest was triggered by visible light excitation of [Ru^II(tpy)(bpy')H₂O]²⁺, Ru^II-OH₂, where tpy is 2,2':6',2″-terpyridine and bpy' is 4,4'-diaminopropylsilatrane-2,2'-bipyridine, anchored to In₂O₃:Sn (ITO) thin films in aqueous solutions. Interfacial kinetics for the PCET reduction reaction were quantified by nanosecond transient absorption spectroscopy as a function of solution pH and applied potential. Data acquired at pH = 5-10 revealed a stepwise electron transfer-proton transfer (ET-PT) mechanism, while kinetic measurements made below pK_a(Ru^III-OH/OH₂) = 1.3 were used to study the analogous interfacial reaction, where electron transfer was the only mechanistic step. Analysis of this data with a recently reported multichannel kinetic model was used to construct a PCET zone diagram and supported the assignment of an ET-PT mechanism at pH = 5-10. Ultimately, this study represents a unique example among M_ox-OH/M_red-OH₂ reactivity where the protonation and oxidation states of the intermediate were kinetically and spectrally resolved to firmly establish the PCET mechanism.