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 embed and optimize 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 (OER).