Cobalt/cerium-based metal-organic framework composites for enhanced oxygen evolution electrocatalysis

Rational design of multivariate metal-organic framework (MOF)-based electrocatalysts with favorably heterostructures is highly desirable for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). In this work, we report the rational construction of a series of CoCe-based MOFs (Co1-xCex-BTC, x = 0, 0.1, 0.15 and 0.2) for OER electrocatalysis, and demonstrate the catalytically inactive Ce-BTC as a new OER promoter greatly boosts the electroctalaytic performance of Co-BTC. The resulting Co0·9Ce0.1-BTC exhibits the outstanding OER performances with a low overpotential of 308 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm−2 and a long-term stability within 25 h, which is favorably comparable to those of the commercial IrO2 and other previously reported MOF-based OER electrocatalysts.