Oxygen-Reduction-Triggered Cathodic Electrodeposition of Mn-Based Metal–Organic Framework Nanoflakes as Oxygen Evolution Electrocatalysts

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are promising electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) due to their advantages such as high-surface area and porosity. Electrochemical methods are an efficient and facile way to prepare binder-free electrocatalysts on conductive substrates. Herein, Mn-based MOF nanoflakes including Mn-BDC and NiMn-BDC were successfully synthesized on carbon cloth by an oxygen-reduction-triggered cathodic deposition strategy where the O 2 acted as an additional probase besides nitrate to promote the deprotonation of ligands, and their OER performance was investigated. The results show that the O 2 in the cathodic deposition had a significant effect on the morphology and composition of products. The Mn-BDC and NiMn-BDC prepared with an O 2 assistance under an optimum deposition potential and time both displayed better OER performance than the corresponding products without oxygen assistance. The role of O 2 was discussed based on the products of the oxygen reduction reaction. This study verified that the oxygen-reduction-triggered cathodic deposition strategy is effective to prepare MOFs with good OER performance.