Optimization of Functional Blocks of Organic Ligands Regulating the Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution Reaction of Co(II)- or Ni(II)-Based Organic Frameworks/Nickel Foam Composites

The design of efficient and ultradurable hydrogen evolution
reaction
(HER) electrocatalysts is very important to the development of a green
hydrogen economy. Herein, three examples of metal–organic frameworks
(MOFs) with similar structures were designed and synthesized by adjusting
the functional blocks in the structures of organic ligands. On the
basis of the self-supporting material formed by these MOFs and nickel
foam, we phosphated them to obtain heterojunction catalysts. Different
functional blocks in the ligands have different effects on the phosphating
process and thus yield different heterojunction structures. Due to
the synergistic action of NiP and Ni5P4, a high
catalytic performance was achieved. This work provides a theoretical
direction for the study of the structure–activity relationship
and the synthesis of efficient HER catalysts.