Hierarchical nitrogen-enriched porous carbon materials derived from Schiff-base networks supported FeCo2O4 nanoparticles for efficient water oxidation

Abstract Abundant metal oxides and their composites have attracted great interest in the application of electrochemical energy conversion and storage. In this work, we obtain a hybrid material of FeCo 2 O 4 nanoparticles anchored on hierarchical nitrogen-enriched porous carbon material (denoted as FeCo 2 O 4 @NPC-450 °C) and study its activity for oxygen evolution reaction (OER). NPC-450 °C is prepared by carbonizing a Schiff-base network (SNW) and SNW is melamine-based material own high nitrogen content and rigid molecular backbone. Compared with FeCo 2 O 4 and NPC-450 °C, FeCo 2 O 4 @NPC-450 °C hybrid exhibits remarkable OER performance with a small over potential of mere 330 mv at a current density of 10 mA cm −2 and a small Tafel slope of 50 mV dec −1 . Electrochemical measurements also show that FeCo 2 O 4 @NPC-450 °C present stability for at least 25 h in alkaline solutions. FeCo 2 O 4 @NPC-450 °C shows good performance for OER raises the possibility for cheap and easily prepared catalyst to replace precious metal catalysts.