Hybrid bilayer membrane: a platform to study the role of proton flux on the efficiency of oxygen reduction by a molecular electrocatalyst

In this report, we present a novel platform to study proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) by controlling the proton flux using an electrode-supported hybrid bilayer membrane (HBM). Oxygen reduction by an iron porphyrin was used as a model PCET reaction. The proton flux was controlled by incorporating an aliphatic proton carrier, decanoic acid, into the lipid layer of the HBM. Using this system, we observed a different catalytic behavior than obtained by simply changing the pH of the solution in the absence of an HBM.