Stabilization of MOF-derived Co₃S₄ nanoparticles via graphdiyne coating for efficient oxygen evolution

Developing a facile approach to fabricate robust electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is essential for water electrolysis for hydrogen production. Transition metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), with their diverse coordination geometries, offer a promising avenue for deriving materials with excellent electrocatalytic properties. Leveraging the distinct controllable synthesis features of two-dimension graphdiyne (2D-GDY), we herein present a novel strategy: Loading GDY in situ onto a MOF-derived Co₃S₄/nickel foam (NF) material to create a self-supported electrode, GDY/Co₃S₄/NF, exhibiting significantly enhanced electrocatalytic performances for OER. Our comprehensive investigation reveals that GDY/Co₃S₄/NF demonstrates superior performance, with a low overpotential of 223 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm⁻² and a small Tafel slope of 46.5 mV dec⁻¹. Notably, it showcases exceptional stability over 45 h of continuous electrolysis at a high current density of 100 mA cm⁻² under alkaline conditions, highlighting its promising practical applicability. These results validate that the unique acetylene bonds and macroporous structure of 2D-GDY enable strong electronic interactions with Co₃S₄, thereby tuning the electronic configuration, facilitating efficient charge transport channels, increasing active surface areas, and enhancing durability. Furthermore, in-situ attenuated total reflection surface-enhanced infrared spectroscopy (in-situ ATR-SEIRAS) analysis reveals that the synergistic effect between GDY and Co₃S₄ promotes the adsorption of crucial intermediate species such as OOH^⋆, thereby significantly improving the electrocatalytic activity for OER. This work presents a facile and efficient strategy for constructing advanced nanomaterials with extraordinary electrocatalytic performance, offering promising prospects for various practical applications.