Two novel Co(ii) coordination polymers based on 1,4-bis(3-pyridylaminomethyl)benzene as electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution from water

Abstract

Based on the L (1,4-bis(3-pyridylaminomethyl)benzene) ligand, two MOFs formulated as Co(L)_0.5(adip) (H₂adip = adipic acid) (1) and Co₂(L)₂(5-bdc)₂(H₂O)₂·H₂O (2) (5-H₂bdc = 5-nitroisophthalic acid) (2) were synthesized and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Complex 1 features a uninodal 4-connected non-interpenetrated sql/Shubnikov tetragonal plane net with {4⁴.6²} topology. In complex 2, two L link two Co(II) centers into a quadrangular cage, and different cages are further connected by two strands of 5-bdc²⁻ into a 1D chain. The two complexes both exhibit electrocatalytic activities toward generating O₂ from water with lowered overpotentials and enhanced currents, and they show different UV-vis absorption spectra and thermal stabilities.