Cobalt-Based Metal-Organic Frameworks and Their Derivatives for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Abstract

Hydrogen has been considered as a promising alternative energy to replace fossil fuels. Electrochemical water splitting, as a green and renewable method for hydrogen production, has been drawing more and more attention. In order to improve hydrogen production efficiency and lower energy consumption, efficient catalysts are required to drive the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Cobalt (Co)-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are porous materials with tunable structure, adjustable pores and large specific surface areas, which has attracted great attention in the field of electrocatalysis. In this review, we focus on the recent progress of Co-based metal-organic frameworks and their derivatives, including their compositions, morphologies, architectures and electrochemical performances. The challenges and development prospects related to Co-based metal-organic frameworks as HER electrocatalysts are also discussed, which might provide some insight in electrochemical water splitting for future development.

Water-Driven Structural Transformation in Cobalt Trimesate Metal-Organic Frameworks

“…Cobalt oxides are among the most studied materials for water splitting [22]. Co-O species in MOFs were exploited for the same aim; in fact, cobalt MOFs were reported to be active catalysts for hydrogen evolution reactions [23] and oxygen evolution and reduction reactions [24]. Co-MOFs started to gain attention in energy sectors as electrode materials for supercapacitors, and they can be classified into two main groups: (i) MOFs as excellent precursors for synthesis of porous transition metal oxides, carbon, or metal oxides embedded in porous carbon matrices [25,26]; (ii) MOFs directly used as electrode materials for supercapacitors due to their porosity and metal cations providing the accommodation space of electrolytes and the redox active sites [27,28].…”

Tuning the Mn Dopant To Boost the Hydrogen Evolution Performance of CoP Nanowire Arrays

“…DFT calculations were carried out to further analyze the effects of the doping amount and location of Mn on the HER performance of Mn x -doped CoP. 67,68 Hence, the free energy for hydrogen absorption (ΔG H* ) is also calculated, which is usually applied as a criterion to evaluate the HER activity of electrocatalysts. In order to better illustrate the effect of the Mn/(Co + Mn) ratio on HER performance, the free energy for hydrogen absorption ΔG H* on the Mn x -doped CoP (211) plane was calculated based on the DFT calculations.…”

Design of metal‐substituted tungsten diboride as an efficient bifunctional electrocatalyst for hydrogen and oxygen evolution

“…12,13 Attempts thus have been made to replace the Pt/C (benchmark HER catalyst) and RuO 2 /IrO 2 (benchmark OER catalysts) with transition metal (TM) selenides, sulfides, nitrides, phosphides, carbides, phosphates, oxides/hydroxides, and borides. 7,[15][16][17] Among these earth-abundant materials, borides have been gaining fame for their robustness in alkaline media. 18 They are unique materials in terms of hardness, favorable thermal and chemical tolerance, strong resistance to oxidation, and extraordinary electronic transport characteristics, on account of their intrinsic M-M, M-B, and B-B bondings.…”

“…In this sense, the fabrication of inexpensive, efficient, durable, and scalable electrocatalysts for the sake of this process is of paramount importance 12,13 . Attempts thus have been made to replace the Pt/C (benchmark HER catalyst) and RuO 2 /IrO 2 (benchmark OER catalysts) with transition metal (TM) selenides, sulfides, nitrides, phosphides, carbides, phosphates, oxides/hydroxides, and borides 7,15‐17 . Among these earth‐abundant materials, borides have been gaining fame for their robustness in alkaline media 18 .…”