Efficient oxygen evolution using conductive cobalt-based metal-organic framework

The electrically conductive Cobalt-benzene-1,3,5-tribenzoate metal–organic framework (Co-BTB) was easily synthesized using the hydrothermal synthesis process. The framework showed a low overpotential (only 170 mV to obtain 10 mA cm⁻²) for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) surpassing the benchmark electrocatalyst IrO₂ which showed an overpotential of 250 mV at the same obtained current density. Moreover, the Co-BTB possesses good kinetics with an estimated Tafel slope of only 46.5 mV dec⁻¹. It provided a high density of catalytic centers with electrically conductive characteristics, as suggested by ECSA. The framework was identified as a promising MOF electrocatalyst for the OER due to its performance as well as its chemical and electrochemical robustness.