An Alkaline-Stable, Metal Hydroxide Mimicking Metal–Organic Framework for Efficient Electrocatalytic Oxygen Evolution

Postsynthetic ion exchange of [Co2(μ-Cl)2(btta)] (MAF-X27-Cl, H2bbta =1H,5H-benzo(1,2-d:4,5-d')bistriazole) possessing open metal sites on its pore surface yields a material [Co2(μ-OH)2(bbta)] (MAF-X27-OH) functionalized by both open metal sites and hydroxide ligands, giving drastically improved electrocatalytic activities for the oxygen evolution reaction (an overpotential of 292 mV at 10.0 mA cm(-2) in 1.0 M KOH solution). Isotope tracing experiments further confirm that the hydroxide ligands are involved in the OER process to provide a low-energy intraframework coupling pathway.

• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Awards: 51173212, 21225105, 21473260, 21290173
• MO
  Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China

  Awards: 2015CB932304, 2014CB845602