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)]·6H2\O) (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.