MOF-Derived FexCo2-XP/NF Electrocatalysts for Efficient Glucose Oxidation and Water Splitting

The glucose oxidation reaction (GOR) is emerging as an energy-efficient alternative to the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), owing to its lower thermodynamic potential and the simultaneous production of value-added chemicals from biomass feedstocks. In this work, we report a bifunctional Fe_xCo_2-XP/NF electrocatalyst, integrated onto a nickel foam (NF) substrate, synthesized via a controlled metal–organic framework (MOF)-derived phosphorization strategy. The resulting Fe_xCo_2-XP/NF electrode demonstrates outstanding electrocatalytic activity toward both the GOR and overall water splitting, achieving low overpotentials of 205 mV and 119 mV for the OER and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), respectively, at 10 mA·cm^–2. The Fe_xCo_2-XP/NF (±) electrode demonstrated a low cell voltage of 1.44 V for the GOR/HER system at a current density of 10 mA·cm^–2, which is substantially lower than the 1.72 V required for the conventional OER/HER configuration. This reduction in energy input, combined with the production of valuable chemicals, highlights the dual functional advantage of the GOR. The improved catalytic performance is attributed to the synergetic integration of FeCo alloy nanostructure with N-doped carbon within a porous 3D framework, enhancing charge transfer, stability, and active site accessibility. These findings present a scalable and innovative approach for simultaneous green hydrogen production and biomass valorization, aligning with the goals of sustainable and economically viable energy systems.