Synthesis of Hollow Leaf-Shaped Iron-Doped Nickel–Cobalt Layered Double Hydroxides Using Two-Dimensional (2D) Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework Catalyzing Oxygen Evolution Reaction

Abstract

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) have been reported as one of the most effective materials for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts, which are prone to hydrolysis and oxidation under OER conditions. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are porous materials with high crystallinity and internal surface area. The design of LDHs based on MOFs has attracted increasing attention owing to their high surface area, exposed catalysis sites, and fast charge/mass transport kinetics. Herein, we report a novel approach to fabricate a leaf-shaped iron-doped nickel–cobalt LDH (L-Fe-NiCoLDH) derived from a two-dimensional (2D) zeolitic imidazolate framework with a leaf-like morphology (ZIFL). Iron doping played a significant role in enhancing the specific surface area, affecting the OER performance. L-Fe-NiCoLDH showed high OER performance with an overpotential of 243 mV at 10 mA cm−2 and high durability after 20 h. The design of LDHs based on the leaf morphology of MOFs offers tremendous potential for improving OER efficiency.