Efficacious Electrochemical Oxygen Evolution from a Novel Co(II) Porphyrin/Pyrene-Based Conjugated Microporous Polymer

Oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is energetically challenging from the platform of making many photovoltaic devices such as metal–air batteries and water splitting systems because of its poor kinetics even when precious metals are used. Herein, a Co(II)–porphyrin/pyrene-comprised conjugated microporous polymer Co-MPPy-1 has been developed which shows efficient OER in alkaline medium. The material was characterized by Fourier transform infrared, solid-state 13C cross-polarization magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance, N2 volumetric adsorption/desorption analysis, scanning electron microscopy, ultra high resolution-transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and other physical studies. Co-MPPy-1 showed Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area of ∼501 m2 g–1. Co-MPPy-1 achieved a current density of 1 and 10 mA/cm–2 at 340 and 420 mV, respectively. The turnover frequency calculated for the OER is 0.43 s–1. The heterogeneity of this electrocatalyst was tested by chronoamperometric measurement and 1000 cycle recyclability test with retainment of the excellent electrochemical catalytic activity. This can be attributed to the presence of high density of Co(II) porphyrin unit and efficient charge transport in the π-conductive conjugated polymeric backbone.