Oxygen reduction using a metal-free naphthalene diimide-based covalent organic framework electrocatalyst

Abstract

A novel naphthalene diimide-based covalent organic framework (NDI-COF) has been synthesized and successfully exfoliated into COF nanosheets (CONs). Electrochemical measurements reveal that the naphthalene diimide units incorporated into NDI-CONs act as efficient electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction in alkaline media, showing its potential for the development of metal-free fuel cellsFinancial support from the Spanish Government (projects MAT2016-77608-C3-1-P, MAT2016-77608-C3-2-P, CTQ2017-84309-C2-1-R, MAT2017-85089-C2-1-R, FJCI-2017-33536 and RYC-2015-17730), the UCM (INV.GR.00.1819.10759) and the Madrid Regional Government (TRANSNANOAVANSENS-CM (S2018/NMT-4349)) is acknowledge