ZIF-67@POM hybrid-derived unique willow-shaped two-dimensional Mo-CoP nanostructures as efficient electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction

Abstract

Designing highly efficient non-precious metal electrocatalysts to facilitate overall water decomposition is critical and highly desirable, but still challenging. In this study, we synthesized ZIF-67@POM nanomaterials by doping H₃PMo₁₂O₄₀ in ZIF-67. The molybdenum-doped carbon matrix can effectively reduce CoP agglomeration, which is conducive to improving the specific surface area and active sites of the catalyst. The doping of Mo also optimizes the electronic structure of Mo-CoP-100 and improves its electrocatalytic activity. Compared with CoP derived from pristine ZIF-67, the optimal Mo-CoP-100 exhibits significantly enhanced oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalytic activity with an almost constant overpotential of 290 mV to maintain a stable current density of 10 mA cm⁻² in alkaline media for at least 100 h. Furthermore, compared with traditional precious metal-free OER electrocatalysts, the Mo-CoP catalysts prepared in this work have high specific surface area, rich surface-active sites, good cycling stability and high diffusion efficiency.