Double-shelled carbon nanocages grafted with carbon nanotubes embedding Co nanoparticles for enhanced hydrogen evolution electrocatalysis

Abstract

Herein, small Co nanoparticles (NPs) encapsulated in N-doped double-shelled carbon nanocages grafted with thin carbon nanotubes (Co@CNTs@DSCNCs) were synthesized from yolk–shell bimetallic zeolitic imidazolate framework (BMZIF). For HER electrocatalysis, they exhibit higher activity (η₁₀ = 214 mV) and more favorable kinetics than Co@CNTs@PC (PC = porous carbon) with thick CNTs and large Co NPs derived from solid BMZIF cubes.