Delaminated Vanadium Carbide MXene Supported Two-Dimensional (2D) CoNH2BDC MOF Hybrid for Enhanced Water Splitting

Water splitting has been regarded as one of the most favorable practices in sustainable energy production technologies. Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) have been recognized as potent candidates as electrocatalysts due to their high porosity, faster charge transfer, tunable structure, and large surface area. MOFs with electrically conductive 2D MXene nanosheets can significantly result in enhanced electrocatalytic activity for both the OER and HER. In this work, cobalt aminoterephthalic acid MOF (CoNH₂BDC) was combined with vanadium carbide (V₂C) MXene via a one-step solvothermal reaction strategy. Credit goes to the high porosity and large surface area of CoNH₂BDC; high electrical conductivity and hydrophilicity of V₂C for enhanced electrocatalytic activity of CoNH₂BDC/V₂C, and faster charge transfer across the CoNH₂BDC-V₂C interface. Among the series of catalysts with varying ratios of V₂C and MOF, the catalyst that showed best OER and HER activity in alkaline medium was CoNBDC/VC3, it attained a current density of 10 mA cm^–2 at 145 mV for OER and 102 mV Vs. RHE for HER, and a Tafel slope value of 50 mV/dec for OER and 55 mV/dec for HER. We believe that this work is demonstration of highly efficient electrocatalytic performance and construction of such hybrid materials can pave new pathways with regard to developing efficient electrocatalysts for green energy production.