Anthraquinone doped CoNi-MOF-74 composites as electrocatalysts for enhanced oxygen evolution reaction

Abstract

Nowadays, the advancement of eco-friendly, clean, sustainable and renewable new energy has emerged as a research priority for scientists worldwide. Electrolytic water technology is founded on the principle of electrochemical or photoelectric decomposition of water, is deemed as one of the most promising and most feasible approaches to reach industrial production. Traditional OER (oxygen evolution reaction) electrocatalysts like IrO₂ and RuO₂ are beset by high costs and vulnerability to poisoning. Hence, it is essential to develop more economical, more stable and more efficient materials for the application of OER reactions. In this study, a series of AQ-doped (AQ = anthraquinone) MOF-74 materials were fabricated through a one-step solvothermal approach. The surface loading of the conjugated organic small molecule AQ on CoNi-MOF-74 is capable of effectively boosting the inadequate electrical conductivity of the bulk MOF material, thus significantly enhancing the performance of OER. The optimized ratio of material composition of AQ20@MOF-74 displayed significantly enhanced OER activity. with a lower overpotential of 272 mV at 10 mA cm⁻² and a smaller Tafel slope of 78 mV dec⁻¹. The research findings presented in this thesis provide a novel approach for the design and optimization of highly efficient OER electrocatalysts based on MOFs.