Controllable Synthesis of Hybrid Nanocomposite Structures Via Laser Ablation Technique for Electrochemical Energy Storage and Conversion Devices

Hybrid carbon-based nanocomposites fabricated from Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) comprised of transition metals are promising candidates as Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR) electrocatalysts due to their superior electron conductivity and high porosity. To this end, a considerable number of studies have focused their attention on enhancing the structural, chemical, and physical properties of such hybrid materials by optimizing their size, morphology, and structure while compositing them with other materials. Our recent works have shown that Laser Ablation Synthesis in Solution (LASiS) techniques can provide a fast, economical, and environmentally friendly method for fabricating MOF-based functional hybrid nanocomposites (HNCs). Our objective in this study is two-fold: 1) to evaluate the efficacy of this technique to rationally engineer the size and shape of MOF structures through modifying solution-phase (reagent concentration and temperature), laser (output power and ablation time), and post-treatment (pyrolysis) parameters, and 2) examine the electrocatalytic performance, stability, and economic feasibility of non-precious metals based HNCs for ORR. Specifically, herein we have optimized the LASiS technique with post-pyrolytic treatments to synthesize HNCs in carbonaceous matrix derived from composite Co-Co₃O₄@ZIF-67 nanostructures that exhibit significantly enhanced ORR electrocatalytic performance.