Layered MOFs as a Route to Multicentre Electrocatalysts

The project is concerned with the design, synthesis and performance of catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction based on Metal Organic Framework precursors. The project will look at the synthesis of multilayer MOFs, Matryoshka structures, with alternate layers containing different transition metal ions and the pyrolysis of the as-prepared materials to form mixed metal oxide materials with defined junctions. A range of techniques including electron microscopy, XRD and XPS will be employed to characterise the materials. Electrochemical analysis will be used to monitor the performance of the synthesised catalysts. The research will address the hypothesis that junctions between certain transition metal oxides may be beneficial in the oxygen evolution reaction.