Porphyrinic Metal–Organic Framework Wrapped MWCNT Nanocomposite as an Efficient Electrocatalyst for Oxygen Reduction Reaction

The rising global energy demand has intensified the search for efficient and sustainable energy sources beyond conventional fossil fuels. Among several options, fuel cells have gained significant interest due to their excellent energy efficiency and environmental friendliness. However, the sluggish oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) at the cathode remains a major challenge, even with platinum-based catalysts, which suffer from high costs, poor methanol tolerance, and limited long-term stability. In this study, we present a cobalt porphyrin-based metal-organic framework (CoTCPP-MOF) integrated with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as an efficient electrocatalyst for ORR. The incorporation of MWCNTs enhances conductivity and surface area, while the CoTCPP-MOF provides abundant metal active sites, facilitating superior catalytic performance. The CoTCPP-MOF@MWCNTs nanocomposite exhibits an impressive onset potential (<i>E</i>_onset) of 0.91 V and a half-wave potential (<i>E</i>_1/2) of 0.74 V vs RHE, significantly outperforming MWCNTs alone (0.78 and 0.44 V) and CoTCPP-MOF alone (0.72 and 0.34 V). Moreover, the nanocomposite showcases outstanding durability and methanol resistance in alkaline conditions, emphasizing its potential as a durable and cost-efficient ORR catalyst for upcoming fuel cell technologies.