MOF derived N-doped carbon coated CoP particle/carbon nanotube composite for efficient oxygen evolution reaction

Growing demand for clean and renewable energy resources has sparked intensive research on the development of an effective strategy to prepare non-noble metal electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Herein, we report a new type of N-doped carbon coated CoP particle/carbon nanotube composite (CNT-NC-CoP) has been synthesized by in situ nucleation and growth of ZIF-67 nanoparticles onto carbon nanotubes, which subsequently is treated with carbonization and phosphorization. Unique hierarchical structure endows as-obtained CNT-NC-CoP with high specific surface area , abundant exposed active sites, quick ion diffusion path , and good electrical conductivity , thus exhibiting the highest electrocatalytic capability with the low overpotential of 251 mV at the current density of 10 mA cm −2 and remaining long-term durability (overlapping LSV curve after 10 h). Besides, density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that CoOOH/graphene charged surfaces are more effective for facilitating intermediates adsorption and improving the corresponding catalytic activity .