EVERGREEN

Joint Journal of Novel Carbon Resource Sciences and Green Asia Strategy

ISSN:2189-0420 (Print until Mar 2020)
ISSN:2432-5953 (Online)

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Zeolitic Imidazole Frameworks-8 (ZIF-8) Modified with Cu(II)/Ni(II)/Co(II) As Bifunctional ORR/OER Electrocatalytic Material

Annisa Nur Buana Wati1, Ubed Sonai Fahruddin Arrozi2, Abu Masykur1, Sri Hastuti1, Atmanto Heru Wibowo1,*
1Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Sciences, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Jl. Ir. Sutami No. 36A. Jebres, Surakarta 57126, Central Java, Indonesia
2Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Sciences, State University of Malang, Jl. Semarang 5, Malang 65145, East Java, Indonesia
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed:
E-mail: aheruwibowo@staff.uns.ac.id (AHW)
Evergreen, Vol. 13, Iss. 02, pp. 813–824, 2026
DOI: 10.5109/7432657
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
Received: February 21, 2025 | Revised: July 24, 2025 | Accepted: September 10, 2025 | Published: June 2026
Abstract
Zeolitic Imidazole Frameworks-8 (ZIF-8) have been modified with transition metals by partially replacing the original Zn(II) metal ions with Co(II), Cu(II), or Ni(II) ions to form 50%-Co(II)/Ni(II)/Cu(II)/ZIF-8. The modification aims to create a material with a higher surface area, which is beneficial for use as an electrocatalyst. Among these MOFs, Co-modified ZIF-8 has shown the most potential electrocatalytic activity toward the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) compared to nickel or copper modifications. Rotating ring-disk electrode (RRDE) measurements revealed kinetic parameters such as onset potential, kinetic current density, Tafel slope, and electron transfer number, offering insights into the reaction mechanism. 50%-Co(II)/ZIF demonstrated the best performance as an efficient ORR catalyst, with an onset potential of 0.8 V vs RHE and an electron transfer number reaching 3.43 at 0.7 V vs RHE, indicating a tendency towards a four-electron pathway. Chronoamperometry and 100 cycles of cyclic voltammetry measurements provided evidence of the stability of the material. Additionally, 50%-Co(II)/ZIF/C exhibited a decent overpotential of 0.509 V to achieve a current density of 10 mA cm-2 for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysis.
Keywords
electrocatalyst; modified ZIF-8; oxygen evolution reaction; oxygen reduction reaction; reversible fuel cell
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