Facile synthesis of silver nanowire-zeolitic imidazolate framework 67 composites as high-performance bifunctional oxygen catalysts

The development of inexpensive, highly active, bifunctional electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is required for many energy conversion systems, including water splitting, fuel cells, and metal-air batteries. This study reports silver nanowires-zeolitic imidazolate framework (Ag NWs-ZIF67) composites as bifunctional electrocatalysts for OER and ORR. The synergistic effects of Co2+, organic ligands, and Ag NWs enhance the bifunctional electrocatalytic properties. Ag NWs improved the electrical conductivity of the Ag NWs-ZIF67 composite toward OER, and porous ZIF-67 on the exterior of this product enabled O2 to fully react with Ag NWs for the ORR because O2 molecules were easily deflected from a planar electrode surface. This study provides valuable insights into the rational design of bifunctional oxygen catalysts having advantages of high performance and low cost.