Nanocomposites of cobalt benzene tricarboxylic acid MOF with rGO: An efficient and robust electrocatalyst for oxygen evolution reaction (OER)

Abstract

In this work, electrocatalytic studies of highly active and non-precious metal based Cobalt benzene tricarboxlic acid (Co BTC) metal organic framework (MOF) and its reduced graphene oxide (rGO) composites for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) were performed in an alkaline media by employing cyclic voltammetry. Cobalt based MOF and their rGO composites were solvothermally synthesized. Prepared samples were further characterized for structural and morphological analysis through X-rays diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDX) techniques. During CV studies the main emphasis was to observe the effect of rGO concentration on electrochemical response of synthesized materials for OER. Co BTC-5 wt % rGO (Cobalt benzene tricarboxlic acid-reduced graphene oxide) composite with current density of 10 mA/cm2 at over potential 0.29 V vs. RHE proved to be a potential candidate due to its high activity and stability for OER.