Fused Hybrid Linkers for Metal–Organic Framework-Derived Bifunctional Oxygen Electrocatalysts

Preparation of electrocatalysts often relies on the use of multiple starting materials, with examples arising from a single precursor being less common. We have surveyed a series of heterobivalent scaffolds to identify an iron/benzimidazole-based metal–organic framework as a uniform starting material. By merging the catechol and imidazole units together, we get a direct entry into a highly efficient bifunctional oxygen electrocatalyst, which alleviates the need for dopants and modifying conditions. We demonstrate that by fine-tuning the chemical nature of an organic linker, one is able to modulate the electrochemical properties of a single precursor-derived electrocatalyst material.