Ultrathin trimetallic metal–organic framework nanosheets for highly efficient oxygen evolution reaction

Abstract

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are seldom used as the catalyst in the oxygen evolution reaction due to their lower conductivity, fewer number of activity centres and poor ion-transfer passage. In this study, a bimetallic/trimetallic ZIF nanosheets was successfully synthesized using 2-methylimidazole as an organic ligand. The 2D structure provided more active centres and better ion transfer passage, while the trimetallic structure increased the conductivity, which led to these ZIF nanosheets exhibiting a more active property, with an overpotential of 216 mV at 100 mA cm⁻² and a Tafel slope of 23.25 mV dec⁻¹ in 1 M KOH, and they also showed good stability under alkaline conditions.