Fused hybrid linkers for metal-organic frameworks-derived oxygen bifunctional electrocatalysts

The preparation of functional materials often relies on the use of multiple starting materials – inorganic salts or organometallic precursors, nanostructured carbon, supports, additives and dopants – with the examples of a single precursor-derived materials being much less well common. Herein, we survey a series of carbon-rich heterobivalent scaffolds to establish a best performing crystalline iron/benzimidazole-based metal–organic framework. By merging the catechol and imidazole units together, we get direct access to a highly efficient oxygen bifunctional electrocatalyst material alleviating the need for any additional dopants.