Thermally reduced mesoporous manganese MOF @reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite as bifunctional electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction and evolution

Abstract

Oxygen electrocatalysis plays a crucial role in harnessing energy from modern renewable energy technologies like fuel cells and metal-air batteries. But high cost and stability issues of noble metal catalysts call for research on tailoring novel metal-organic framework (MOF) based architectures which can bifunctionally catalyze O2 reduction and evolution reactions (ORR & OER). In this work, we report a novel manganese MOF rGO nanocomposite synthesized using a facile self-templated solvothermal method. The nanocomposite is superior to commercial Pt/C catalyst both in material resource and effectiveness in application. A more positive cathodic peak (Epc = 0.78 V vs. RHE), onset (Eonset = 1.09 V vs. RHE) and half wave potentials (E1/2 = 0.98 V vs. RHE) for the ORR and notable potential to achieve the threshold current density (E@10 m cm10 m cm-2 = 1.84 V vs. RHE) for OER are features promising to reduce overpotentials during ORR and OER. Small Tafel slopes, methanol tolerance and acceptable short term stability augment the electrocatalytic properties of the as-prepared nanocomposite. Remarkable electrocatalytic features are attributed to the synergistic effect from the mesoporous 3D framework and transition metal-organic composition. Template directed growth, tunable porosities, novel architecture and excellent electrocatalytic performance of the manganese MOF @rGO nanocomposite make it an excellent candidate for energy applications. This journal is