April Molecule of the Month

April 2023’s Molecule of the Month is N-trans [Ru(terpy-4’-(C₆H₄-4-(C(O)NHC₃H₆-3-silatrane)))(Mebim-py)(NCCH₃)](PF₆)₂! This ruthenium silatrane catalyst was attached to tantalum(V) nitride (Ta₃N₅), which is a potential photoanode for water oxidation applications, and was shown to passivate defects on the surface. The spatial and energetic distribution of trap states throughout Ta₃N₅ thin films with and without the immobilized Ru silatrane catalyst was characterized using drive-level capacitance profiling (DLCP). The Ru silatrane-immobilized Ta₃N₅ was shown to have over two orders of magnitude lower density of surface defects as compared to the Ru silatrane-free Ta₃N₅. The Ru silatrane molecule’s surface passivation led to suppressed trapping and recombination of photoexcited carriers, which was characterized by absorption, photoluminescence, and transient photovoltage measurements. The findings from this study may guide the integration and development of high-performance Ta₃N₅ thin film devices. The CHASE collaboration was lead by the Lopez group with synthetic efforts by CHASE staff scientist Dr. Stephen J. Tereniak.

Check it out at https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.2c19275!