The team is dedicated to the study of electrochemical and photo-electrochemical processes, ranging from the fundamental aspects of phenomena occurring in solution or at the solid/solution interface to applications in energy, environment, and molecular electronics. Elucidating reaction mechanisms and electro-catalytic processes, particularly coupled proton-electron transfer (CPET) phenomena, is part of our interests.

PolyOxoMetallates (POMs), molecular oxides with multiple metal centers capable of reversibly storing and releasing a significant number of electrons without changing their structure, are effective photo-electro-catalysts in numerous reactions and are the focus of our research. In addition to the fundamental study of the electrochemical behavior of POMs, we are interested in their applications for energy and the environment, particularly in POM-based nano-hybrids, including carbon-based nanomaterials (such as graphene and nanotubes). This latter aspect touches on several themes, such as noble metal-free fuel cells (electro-catalysis of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and alcohol oxidation); hydrogen (HER) and oxygen (OER) production; carbon dioxide reduction; pollutant detection and elimination (electro-catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides and organic dyes); and interactions with biologically relevant molecules. “Sandwich” type POMs synthesized within the team, featuring a mixed metallic cation composition at the equatorial level, are particularly promising for these applications.

Finally, we analyze the influence of several parameters (size and charge of species, pH, and ionic strength of the medium) on the electrochemical response of POMs. These are studied on modified electrodes fabricated via oriented mesoporous silica films. The goal is to create an ultra-dense network of POM nanowires, separated and uniformly distributed in individual insulating nanochannels, for applications in the field of molecular electronics.