Catalyzing towards clean energy: tuning the oxygen evolution reaction by amide-functionalized Co() and Ni() pristine coordination polymers

We present the synthesis and characterization of two monometallic coordination polymers, [Co(L) 2 (H 2 O) 2 ] n ( Co-CP ) and [Ni(L) 2 (H 2 O) 2 ] n ( Ni-CP ), alongside a heterobimetallic counterpart, CoNi-CP , derived from an amide-based multifunctional pro-ligand 4-(pyrimidin-5-ylcarbamoyl)benzoic acid (HL), and discussed their electrocatalytic activity in the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The CPs were characterized using various techniques, including elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and thermal and powder XRD analyses. The low-cost amide-functionalized transition metal pristine coordination polymers Co-CP and Ni-CP were demonstrated to catalyze the OER in alkaline media, surpassing the benchmark IrO 2 electrocatalyst performance. The heterometallic coordination polymer ( CoNi-CP ) displayed a lower Tafel slope value (and thus, faster kinetics) and higher long-term durability compared to its monometallic counterparts, Co-CP and Ni-CP . The results obtained show a pristine transition metal heterobimetallic coordination polymer as a low-cost electrocatalyst of great promise and high performance for OER catalysis in alkaline media. Pristine multifunctional amide-based bimetallic Co-Ni coordination polymer and monometallic counterparts as efficient electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction.