Two novel Co (II) bifunctional MOFs: Syntheses and applications in photocatalytic degradation of dyes and electrocatalytic water oxidation

Two novel Co (II) MOFs based on 5-(4-(imidazolyl-1-yl)phenyl) isophthalic acid (H2L), namely [Co(L)(tib)(H2O)2]n (CP 1) and [Co(L)(bip)0.5]n (CP 2) (tib ​= ​1,3,5-tirs (1-imidazolyl) benzene, bip ​= ​3,5-bis(1-imidazolyl) pyridine ether) have been synthesized under solvothermal conditions and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, single crystal X-ray diffraction. The photodegradation studies demonstrate that CPs 1–2 show high-efficiency degradation of MV (Methyl violet), and the mechanism studies demonstrate that the main active species are ⋅OH radicals. Meanwhile, electrochemistry studies demonstrate that CPs 1–2 can catalyze water oxidation under alkaline conditions, and CPs 1–2 only need the overpotential of 348 ​mV–760 mV to deliver the current density of 1 ​mA ​cm−2.