Cobalt/Dihydroxybenzimidazole-Derived Amorphous MOF TAL-2 As a Single Precursor for Trifunctional ORR/Oer/HER Electrocatalyst Material

Abstract

Preparation of cost-efficient noble metal-free multifunctional electrocatalyst materials with high performance and stability for oxygen evolution reaction (OER), oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) – referred to as trifunctional catalysts – remains an outstanding challenge. The catalyst material was prepared from amorphous metal–organic framework TAL-2, which was obtained from cobalt salt and dihydroxybenzimidazole and outperformed the benchmark catalysts in ORR and OER reactions (0.1 M KOH; ∆E = 0.73 V, AMFCs: j = 1100 mA cm–2, P = 400 mW cm–2). Use of dopants or modifying conditions was unnecessary fot this material to be used as a trifunctional electrocatalyst.