1,4-Phenylenediamine based covalent triazine framework as an electro catalyst

•1,4-phenylenediamine based covalent triazine framework has been synthesized and characterized.•High nitrogen content in these material renders them good electrocatalytic activity even without carbonization.•The material shows good catalytic activity towards the electrochemical reduction of nitrobenzene and oxygen evolution reaction (OER).

Herein, we report the synthesis of 1,4-phenylenediamine based covalent triazine framework (CTF) by reacting cyanuric chloride with 1,4-phenylenediamine under basic conditions. The as synthesized polymeric framework was characterized by solid state 13C-CPMAS and 15N NMR, FT-IR, Raman, SEM, TEM, UV-Vis and N2 sorption isotherm. Commercially available glassy carbon electrode is modified with the as synthesized polymer and its electro catalytic activity towards the reduction of nitrobenzene and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is studied. Performance of the bare CTF material resembles the performance of commercial GC (glassy carbon) electrode.

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