Strong Ligand-Modified Polyaniline Decorated with Cobalt Nanoparticles Optimizes Surface Electron Density for Efficient Oxygen Evolution

Abstract

By employing a chemical oxidative copolymerization strategy coupled with the regulated reduction of cobalt ions, we successfully embedded and optimized cobalt nanoparticles within a copolymer matrix of aniline (ANI) and 2-aminoterephthalic acid (ATA). The resulting polyaniline-based derivative loaded with cobalt nanoparticles (Co/PANI-COOH-2) exhibits an optimized electronic structure that promotes OH -adsorption. This material demonstrates high catalytic activity and outstanding durability for the oxygen evolution reaction.