Two-dimensional stable and ultrathin cluster-based metal–organic layers for efficient electrocatalytic water oxidation

For electrochemical energy conversion, highly efficient and stable electrocatalysts are required, which are principally designed and synthesized by virtue of structural regulation. Two-dimensional cluster-based metal–organic layers (CMOLs) would have good performance in oxygen evolution reaction (OER) because of their stable and layered structure. Here, we first report the synthesis of CoNi bimetal two-dimensional CMOLs directly grown on Ni foam, which show excellent catalytic activity for the OER under alkaline conditions. Co0.6Ni0.4-CMOLs exhibited the best OER performance, compared with Co-CMOLs and Ni-CMOLs. The findings are expected to help understand the fundamental concept of enhanced electrochemical activity based on pristine metal–organic frameworks with high stability.