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. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.