Covalent organic frameworks as porous supports for non-noble metal based water splitting electrocatalysts

Abstract

The present invention discloses porous covalent organic frameworks (COF) supported noble metal-free nanoparticles which are useful as electrocatalysts for a water splitting system, and to the process for preparation of such electrocatalysts. The covalent organic frameworks (COF) supported noble metal-free nanoparticles have general formula (I):COF_AxBy(M)n (Formula I) wherein COF is selected from a Tris (4-formylphenyl)amine terephthaldehyde polymer or a benzimidazole-phloroglucinol polymer; ‘A’ and ‘B’ each independently represent a transition metal selected from the group consisting of Ni, Co, Fe, Mn, Zn, and mixtures thereof; or ‘A’ and ‘B’ together represent a transition metal selected from the group consisting of Ni, Co, Fe, Mn, Zn, and mixtures thereof;‘M’ represents hydroxide or a nitride ion; ‘x’ and ‘y’ represent the weight % of the metal loadings; or a ratio of x:y is between 0:1 and 1:0; and ‘n’ is an integer 1 or 2 or 3.