A phytic acid-derived Co2-xNixP2O7-C/RGO composite was designed and facilely synthesized, in which phytic acid acted as both a phosphoric source and carbon source. Both carbon derived from phytic acid and reduced graphene oxide (RGO) in composite, enhanced the conductivity and thus improve its electrocatalytical capability. As synthesized Co1.22Ni0.78P2O7-C/RGO composite exhibited excellent oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalytic performances: At the current density of 10 mA cm(-2), only a low overpotential of 283 mV and a small Tafel slope of 51 mV dec(-1) were observed. Good OER catalytic performance was retained even after 10 h continuously running at a constant voltage, which is even comparable to those of first-rate noble metal catalyst RuO2. In addition, the performances of Co2-xNixP2O7-C/RGO catalysts were also strongly dependent on Ni content. (C) 2018 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.