Vanadate Encapsulated Polyoxoborate Framework with [V12B18] Clusters: An Efficient Bifunctional Electrocatalyst for Oxygen and Hydrogen Evolution Reactions

Widespread contemporary attention has grown over the years in the search for a new functional and robust inorganic framework system with the advent of exciting applications. Herein, a facile strategy has been demonstrated for developing noble-metal-free bifunctional electrocatalysts by successfully preparing a polyoxovanadoborate framework compound, i.e., [Na10(H2O)18]­[(VO)12(μ3-OH)6­(B3O7)6]·5H2O, i.e., NVBO-I. Anionic vanadoborate clusters are interconnected through a cationic sodium aquated chain to form a three-dimensional framework structure. The compound exhibits remarkable bifunctional activity for oxygen and hydrogen evolution reactions over many well-engineered and state-of-art electrocatalysts under a similar catalytic environment.