MOF-derived N-doped carbon coated Co/RGO composites with enhanced electrocatalytic activity for oxygen reduction reaction

•A series of Co@NC/RGO were prepared by in-situ growth of ZIF-67 on GO.•The highest catalytic performance is achieved when GO content is 2.6%.•Co@NC/RGO-2.6 has higher pyridinic-N and graphitic-N than Co@NC.•Co@NC/RGO-2.6 exhibits much higher durability than commercial Pt/C.•The ORR mechanism on the home-made catalyst is similar to that on Pt/C.