Co-metal organic framework nano-crystals on exfoliated graphite as noble metal-free electrode precursors

摘要

The development of noble metal-free, carbon-based electrodes for electrocatalytic reactions such as the oxygen evolution (OER) holds the key for renewable energy technologies [1]. Gaining control over the nature and chemical environment of highly dispersed metal species, e.g. through the use of molecularly dispersed precursors, represents a relevant approach to establish structure-performance relations and develop superior electrode materials. Electrically conductive composites comprising 2D nanomaterials currently attract a great deal of attention as precursors for such electrode materials, which could be integrated in ultrathin functional devices [2]. We investigate the application of composite electrodes combining 2D ultrathin graphitic carbons and metal-organic framework (MOF) nanocrystals as precursors for carbon-based electrocatalysts. While the graphitic carbon provides excellent charge transfer properties, the compositionally regular MOF is used as a "shuttle" to introduce dispersed metal species and control their direct chemical vicinity via selection of the organic linker in the macromolecular precursor.