In-Situ Fabrication of Metal Organic Frameworks Nanocomposite for Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Abstract

The purpose of this research project is to fabricate carbon and nitrogen coated zeolite imidazole framework-8 (CN coated ZIF-8) nanoparticles and to evaluate their oxygen reduction capability. CN coated ZIF-8 has been synthesized through solvothermal method, in which zinc nitrate hexahydrate is mixed with 2-methylimidazole to form ZIF-8 which is further wrapped with dopamine and calcined to form CN-coated ZIF- 8. Fourier transform (FT-IR) studies confirmed the presence of functional groups in the synthesized nanocomposites, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the CN- coated ZIF-8 nanocomposite. CN-coated ZIF-8 interacts with the oxygen through electrostatic force (van der Waals force) and results in the transformation of O2 into H2O. Glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was modified with CN-coated ZIF-8 and was applied for oxygen reduction reaction by using 0.1 M potassium hydroxide (0.1 M KOH) as an electrolyte. The synthesized electrode is cheap, robust, and has shown good electrocatalytic activity for ORR.