Cobalt Oxide Encapsulated in C2N-h2D Network Polymer as a Catalyst for Hydrogen Evolution

With cobalt oxides as promising catalysts for hydrogen generation, 2D network polymer-supported cobalt-oxide catalysts with good crystallinity are highly anticipated to enhance catalytic performance. Here we report the fabrication of a 2D nitrogenated network polymer-encapsulated cobalt-oxide (Co@C2N) catalyst via an in situ solvothermal synthesis. Co@C2N exhibits outstanding catalytic activities for hydrogen (H-2) generation from the hydrolysis of alkaline sodium borohydride (NaBH4) solutions. The rate of maximum hydrogen generation is comparable to the best reported values for catalysts containing other noble metals in alkaline solutions. Furthermore, Co@C2N can also catalyze the in situ reduction of a nitro group into an amino group (4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol) in the presence of NaBH4. The origin of high catalytic activity with enhanced stability could be due to the strong interaction between the cobalt-oxide nanoparticle and the C2N framework, which contains a large portion of nitrogen.