MOF-Derived FeCoO/N-Doped C Bifunctional Electrode for H2 Production Through Water and Glucose Electrolysis

Abstract

The glucose oxidation reaction (GOR) is a potential alternative to water oxidation because of its relatively low thermodynamic potential and the high availability of glucose. Herein, a FeCoO/N-doped C electrode derived from metal–organic framework (MOF) materials is applied, which is synthesized in several steps through the controlled deposition of Fe–Co oxide nanocatalysts onto Co –N-doped C nanofibers on a Ni foam substrate and demonstrate exceptional electrocatalytic activity for both the GOR and overall water splitting. Here, a bifunctional electrocatalyst derived from MOF, FeCoO/N-doped C is reported, for glucose oxidation reaction (GOR) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The MOF-derived FeCoO/N-doped C (+/-) as a bifunctional electrocatalyst exhibits a cell voltage of 1.4 V for the GOR&HER, to reach a current density of 10 mA cm⁻², which is 280 mV lower than that for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER)&HER (1.68 V). This study reveals that GOR is an energy-efficient and affordable source of H₂ and value-added chemicals.