Synergistic bimetallic MOF/GO nanocomposite as a high-performance bifunctional electrocatalyst for the oxygen and hydrogen evolution reactions.

The development of efficient, stable and non-precious bifunctional electrocatalysts for overall water splitting is crucial for sustainable energy solutions. This work presents the rational design and solvothermal synthesis of a bimetallic NiCu-MOF anchored on graphene oxide (GO) to form a synergistic NiCu-MOF@GO composite. Comprehensive characterizations via FTIR spectroscopy, XRD, SEM, EDX and UV-vis spectroscopy confirm the successful formation of the crystalline MOF structure and its uniform integration with the conductive GO network. When evaluated electrochemically, the NiCu-MOF@GO composite demonstrates exceptional activity for both the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in an alkaline medium. It achieves significantly lower overpotentials and Tafel slopes than the pristine NiCu-MOF. Chronoamperometry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) further reveal outstanding long-term stability and a markedly reduced charge transfer resistance. The enhanced performance is attributed to the synergistic interplay, where the GO matrix prevents MOF aggregation, drastically improves electrical conductivity and increases the electrochemically active surface area, while the bimetallic NiCu system provides optimal active sites. This study underscores the immense potential of multivariate MOF/GO composites as high-performance, durable electrocatalysts for clean energy generation.