A Porous Cobalt (II) Metal–Organic Framework with Highly Efficient Electrocatalytic Activity for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction

Abstract

A 3D porous framework ([Co1.5(tib)(dcpna)]·6H2O) (1) with a Wei topology has been synthesized by solvothermal reaction of 1,3,5-tris(1-imidazolyl)-benzene (tib), 5-(3′,5′-dicarboxylphenyl)nicotinic acid (H3dcpna) and cobalt nitrate. The electrocatalytic activity for water oxidation of 1 has been investigated in alkaline solution. Compound 1 exhibits good oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activities in alkaline solution, exhibiting 10 mA·cm−2 at η = 360 mV with a Tafel slope of 89 mV·dec−1. The high OER activity can be ascribe to 1D open channels along b axis of 1, which expose more activity sites and facilitate the electrolyte penetration.

Keywords

• cobalt
• metal-organic frameworks
• Wei topology
• oxygen evolution reaction