Enhanced cobalt MOF electrocatalyst for oxygen evolution reaction via morphology regulation

Developing productive and stable catalysts using common elements for the production of hydrogen via water splitting is highly desirable. Due to their well-designed composition, unique morphology, and highly crystalline structure, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) exhibit good electrocatalytic performance and have attracted significant research interest as OER catalysts. The optimized Co-MOF-C catalyst reported herein exhibited a smaller overpotential at 10 mA cm−2 and Tafel slope (342 mV, 119 mV dec−1) than Co-MOF-A and Co-MOF-B in an alkaline solution for OER. Moreover, Co-MOF-C showed better long-term durability and stability with negligible deactivation compared with the other MOF catalysts. The apparent laminar nanomorphology of Co-MOF-C provided more accessible active metal centers, better electrical conductivity, and improved kinetics, explaining its better performance as an OER electrocatalyst.