A novel two-dimensional nickel phthalocyanine-based metal–organic framework for highly efficient water oxidation catalysis

Large pi-conjugated conductive two-dimensional (2D) metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) via the bottom-up approach have recently emerged as novel and interesting 2D materials. For the first time, herein we demonstrate the design and successful bottom-up fabrication of a novel noble-metal-free nickel phthalocyanine-based 2D MOF (NiPc-MOF) for highly efficient water oxidation catalysis. This NiPc-MOF can be easily grown on various substrates. The thin film deposited on FTO showed high catalytic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity with a very low onset potential (<1.48 V, overpotential < 0.25 V), high mass activity (883.3 A g(-1)), and excellent catalytic durability. To the best of our knowledge, this present 2D MOF film catalyst represents the best OER catalytic activity among molecular catalyst-based materials reported so far. This work represents the first synthesis of a nickel phthalocyanine-based 2D MOF material and application of the pi-conjugated 2D MOF for water oxidation.