Design of iron oxyhydroxide nanosheets coated on Co species embedded in nanoporous carbon for oxygen evolution reaction

The self-sacrificing template zeolitic imidazolate framework-67 (ZIF-67) was pyrolyzed to generate Co nanoparticles embedded in nanoporous carbon (Co-NC), and iron oxyhydroxide (FeOOH) was wrapped on the Co-NC surface via electrodeposition to shape the Co-NC@FeOOH composites for improving the OER kinetics. [Display omitted] •FeOOH nanosheets coated on Co species embedded in nanoporous carbon to form novel electrocatalyst.•Co-NC@FeOOH supports strongly accelerated electron transfer, thereby improving the OER kinetics.•Co-NC@FeOOH hybrids will hold promise in development of electrode materials. There is still a tremendous challenge in designing environmentally friendly oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts that are inexpensive and high-performing for practical applications. Herein, the self-sacrificing template zeolitic imidazolate framework-67 (ZIF-67) was pyrolyzed under N2 atmosphere to generate Co species embedded in nanoporous carbon (Co-NC). Then, iron oxyhydroxide (FeOOH) was wrapped onto the Co-NC surface via electrodeposition to shape the Co-NC@FeOOH composites. Benefiting from the core–shell structure, high conductivity, and distributed active sites, Co-NC@FeOOH presents distinguished OER performance with a low overpotential (336 mV) at 10 mA cm−2 and small Tafel slope (49.46 mV dec-1). This work furnishes a rosy passage for receiving cost-effective electrocatalysts with high efficiency for OER.