One-Pot Synthesis of Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework 67-Derived Hollow Co₃S₄@MoS₂ Heterostructures as Efficient Bifunctional Catalysts

Herein, we present a facile metal–organic framework-engaged strategy to synthesize hollow Co₃S₄@MoS₂ heterostructures as efficient bifunctional catalysts for both H₂ and O₂ generation. The well-known cobalt-based metal–organic zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIF-67) are used not only as the morphological template but also as the cobalt precursor. During the two-step temperature-raising hydrothermal process, ZIF-67 polyhedrons are first transformed to hollow cobalt sulfide polyhedrons by sulfidation, and then molybdenum disulfide nanosheets further grow and deposit on the surface of hollow cobalt sulfide polyhedrons at the increased temperature. The crystalline hollow Co₃S₄@MoS₂ heterostructures are finally obtained after subsequent thermal annealing under a N₂ atmosphere. Due to the synergistic effects between the hydrogen evolution reaction active catalyst of MoS₂ and the oxygen evolution reaction active catalyst of Co₃S₄, the obtained hollow Co₃S₄@MoS₂ heterostructures exhibit outstanding bifunctional catalytic performances toward both hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions in acidic and alkaline media.