MOF-derived RuCoP nanoparticles-embedded nitrogen-doped polyhedron carbon composite for enhanced water splitting in alkaline media

Water splitting is considered as a promising candidate for renewable and sustainable energy systems, while developing efficient, inexpensive and robust bifunctional electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) still remains a challenge. Herein, the welldesigned RuCoP nanoparticles embedded in nitrogen-doped polyhedron carbon (RuCoP@CN) composite is fabricated by in-situ carbonization of Co based zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-67) and phosphorization. Ru-substituted phosphate is proved to be imperative for the electrochemical activity and stability of individual catalysts, which can efficiently yield the active electronic states and promote the intrinsic OER and HER activity. As a result, a current density of 10 mA cm-2 is achieved at a cell voltage as low as 1.60 V when the RuCoP@CN electrocatalyst applied for the overall water splitting, which is superior to the reported RuO2 and Pt/C couple electrode (1.64 V). The density functional theory (DFT)