Synthesis of Co-based Prussian Blue Analogues/Dual-Doped Hollow Carbon Microsphere Hybrids as High-Performance Bifunctional Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Evolution and Overall Water Splitting

The development of low-cost non-noble electrocatalysts with high activity and durability is highly desirable for renewable and sustainable energy applications. Prussian blue (PB) analogues with the structure of transition metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are viewed as attractive candidates for high-performance electrocatalysts, while how to achieve the decoration of metal sites without damage for improved reactivity is still challenging. Herein, a nanocomposite catalyst based on PB analogues on cobalt-nitrogen-doped porous hollow carbon microspheres (PB-Co/Co-N-PHCS) was synthesized by a facile hydrothermal method. Benefiting from multiple active sites, hierarchical porous structure, and high conductive hollow carbon shell, the catalyst showed outstanding electrocatalytic activity and durability for an oxygen evolution reaction (OER). More importantly, PB-Co/Co-N-PHCS also can serve as a bifunctional electrocatalyst for overall water splitting with high durability. This pioneering work provides a clue for the preparation of a new class of high-performance Prussian blue analogue-based hybrid electrocatalysts.