A dysprosium-based new coordination polymer and its activity towards the oxygen reduction reaction

A new dysprosium-based coordination polymer ( Dy-CP) was synthesized by the solvothermal method and studied for ORR catalysis. The catalytically active Dy2O3 on graphitized carbon was synthesized from this particular Dy-CP via annealing. Generally, MOFs containing transition elements, such as Zn, Fe, and Co, have been studied for ORR, and they show very good activity as ORR catalysts. Although lanthanide-based perovskites have also been explored for ORR, lanthanide-based MOF/CPs have not been evaluated for the same. The promising activities of other transition metal-based oxides inspired us to study the ORR activity of the dysprosium-based CP. As a precursor molecule for porous nanocarbon synthesis, this Dy-based CP was graphitized under particular annealing conditions and its influence on the ORR activity was investigated.