Metal-Organic frameworks-derived multifunctional carbon encapsulated metallic nanocatalysts for catalytic peroxymonosulfate activation and electrochemical hydrogen generation

Synthesis of high-efficiency metal catalysts and their application in catalyzing critical chemical processes holds the key to the sustainable supply of water and energy. However, reaction-induced atomistic modifications of nanoclusters often result in reduced stability and efficacy. Herein, we report a highly active and multifunctional transition metal nanocatalysts encapsulated in porous carbon network (M@C where M = Cu, Ni, Fe, Co) prepared by leveraging the sacrificial templating properties of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). The as-synthesized M@C nanocatalysts were employed for oxidative degradation of organic pollutants and electrocatalytic hydrogen generation. Fenton like catalytic studies revealed that the nanocatalysts were highly active and reusable following the order of Co@C > Fe@C > Cu@C > Ni@C. On the other hand, Ni@C electrocatalyst displayed superior activity towards hydrogen evolution reaction as compared to others, delivering a low onset potential of 61 mV, Tafel slope of 82 mV/dec and an overpotential of 286 mV at 10 mA‧cm⁻². The activity was essentially unchanged even after 500 cycles, suggesting the long-term stability under acidic conditions. The impressive multifunctional catalytic performances of M@C nanocatalysts are attributed to their unique porous carbon matrix doped by transition metal nanoparticles which provide a large number of interconnected catalytically active sites.