Rapid Charge Transfer Enabled by Noncovalent Interaction through Guest Insertion in Supercapacitors based on Covalent Organic Frameworks

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have been proposed for electrochemical energy storage, although the poor conductivity resulted from covalent bonds limits their practical performance. Here, we propose to introduce noncovalent bonds in COFs through a molecular insertion strategy for improving the conductivity of the COFs as supercapacitor. The synthesized COFs (MI−COFs) establish equilibriums between covalent bonds and noncovalent bonds, which construct a continuous charge transfer channel to enhance the conductivity. The rapid charge transfer rate enables the COFs to activate the redox sites, bringing about excellent electrochemical energy storage behavior. The results show that the MI−COFs exhibit much better performance in specific capacitance and capacity retention rate than those of most COFs-based supercapacitors. Moreover, through simply altering inserted guests, the mode and strength of noncovalent bond can be adjusted to obtain different energy storage characteristics. The introduction of noncovalent bonds is an effective and flexible way to enhance and regulate the properties of COFs, providing a valuable direction for the development of novel COFs-based energy storage materials.     

Energy Storage in Covalent Organic Frameworks: From Design Principles to Device Integration

Covalent organic frameworks(COFs) have received profound attention in recent years owing to their tailor-made porosity, large surface area and robust stability. More specifically, 2D COFs with redox-active and π electron-rich units allow efficient charge carriers hopping and ion migration, thus offering great potentials in energy storage. Herein, we present a systematic and concise overview of the recent advances in 2D COFs related to the electrochemical energy field, including supercapacitors, fuel cells, rechargeable lithium batteries, lithium-sulfur batteries, and other metal-ion batteries. In addition, a brief outlook is proposed on the challenges and prospects of COFs as electrode materials for energy storage.     

Embedding Hydrogen Atom Transfer Moieties in Covalent Organic Frameworks for Efficient Photocatalytic C−H Functionalization

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have emerged as efficient heterogeneous photocatalysts for a wide range of relatively simple organic reactions, whereas their application in complex organic transformations, like site-selective functionalization of unactivated C−H bonds, is underexplored, which can be mainly attributed to the lack of highly active organophotocatalytic cores. Herein through bonding oxygen atoms at the N-terminus of quinolines in nonsubstituted quinoline-linked COFs (NQ−COFs), we successfully realized the embedding of active hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) moieties into the skeleton of COFs. This novel designed COF (NQ−COF_E5−O), serving as both an excellent photosensitizer and HAT catalyst, exhibited much higher efficiency in C−H functionalization than the corresponding NQ−COF_E5. Specially, we evaluated the photocatalytic performance of NQ−COF_E5−O on ten different substrates, including quinolines, benzothiazole, and benzoxazole, all of which were transferred to desired products in moderate to high yields (up to 93 %). Furthermore, the as-synthesized NQ−COF_E5−O displayed excellent photostability and could be reused with negligible loss of activity for five catalytic cycles.     

Linkages Make a Difference in the Photoluminescence of Covalent Organic Frameworks

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) with structural designability and tunability of photophysical properties enable them to be a promising class of organic luminescent materials by incorporating well-designed fluorescent units directly into the periodic skeletons. The photophysical properties of COFs are mainly affected by the structural features, which determine the conjugation degree, charge delocalization ability, and exciton dynamics of COFs. To understand the relationship between COF structures and their photophysical properties, two COFs with the same pyrene chromophore units but different linkages (imine or vinylene) were designed and synthesized. Interestingly, different linkages endow COFs with huge differences in solid-state photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) for imine- and vinylene-linked pyrene-based COFs, which possess PLQY values of 0.34 % and 15.43 %, respectively. The femtosecond-transient absorption spectra and time-dependent density functional theory reveal the different charge-transfer pathways in imine- and vinylene-linked COFs, which influence the exciton relaxation way and fluorescence intensity. In addition, an effective white-light device was obtained by coating the vinylene-linked COF on a light-emitting diode strip.     

Pore Geometry and Surface Engineering of Covalent Organic Frameworks for Anhydrous Proton Conduction

Developing new materials for anhydrous proton conduction under high-temperature conditions is significant and challenging. Herein, we create a series of highly crystalline covalent organic frameworks (COFs) via a pore engineering approach. We simultaneously engineer the pore geometry (generating concave dodecagonal nanopores) and pore surface (installing multiple functional groups such as −C=N−, −OH, −N=N− and −CF₃) to improve the utilization efficiency and host–guest interaction of proton carriers, hence benefiting the enhancement of anhydrous proton conduction. Upon loading with H₃PO₄, COFs can realize a proton conductivity of 2.33×10⁻² S cm⁻¹ under anhydrous conditions, among the highest values of all COF materials. These materials demonstrate good stability and maintain high proton conductivity over a wide temperature range (80–160 °C). This work paves a new way for designing COFs for anhydrous proton conduction applications, which shows great potential as high-temperature proton exchange membranes.     

Colyliform Crystalline 2D Covalent Organic Frameworks (COFs) with Quasi-3D Topologies for Rapid I2 Adsorption

Constructing three-dimensional (3D) structural characteristics on two-dimensional (2D) covalent organic frameworks (COFs) is a good approach to effectively improve the permeability and mass transfer rate of the materials and realize the rapid adsorption for guest molecules, while avoiding the high cost and monomer scarcity in preparing 3D COFs. Herein, we report for the first time a series of colyliform crystalline 2D COFs with quasi-three-dimensional (Q-3D) topologies, consisting of unique “stereoscopic” triangular pores, large interlayer spacings and flexible constitutional units which makes the pores elastic and self-adaptable for the guest transmission. The as-prepared QTD-COFs have a faster adsorption rate (2.51 g h⁻¹) for iodine than traditional 2D COFs, with an unprecedented maximum adsorption capacity of 6.29 g g⁻¹. The excellent adsorption performance, as well as the prominent irradiation stability allow the QTD-COFs to be applied for the rapid removal of radioactive iodine.     

Dual Microenvironment Modulation of Pd Nanoparticles in Covalent Organic Frameworks for Semihydrogenation of Alkynes

The chemical microenvironment modulation of metal nanoparticles (NPs) holds promise for tackling the long-lasting challenge of the trade-off effect between activity and selectivity in catalysis. Herein, ultrafine PdCu₂ NPs incorporated into covalent organic frameworks (COFs) with diverse groups on their pore walls have been fabricated for the semihydrogenation of alkynes. The Cu species, as the primary microenvironment of Pd active sites, greatly improves the selectivity. The functional groups as the secondary microenvironment around PdCu₂ NPs effectively regulate the activity, in which PdCu₂ NPs encapsulated in the COF bearing −CH₃ groups exhibit the highest activity with >99 % conversion and 97 % selectivity. Both experimental and calculation results suggest that the functional group affects the electron-donating ability of the COFs, which successively impacts the charge transfer between COFs and Pd sites, giving rise to a modulated Pd electronic state and excellent catalytic performance.     

A Phosphine-Amine-Linked Covalent Organic Framework with Staggered Stacking Structure for Lithium-Ion Conduction

In-plane ionic conduction over two-dimensional (2D) materials is desirable for flexible electronics. Exfoliating 2D covalent organic frameworks (COFs) towards a few layers is highly anticipated, whereas most examples remain robust via π-stacking against the interlayered dislocation. Herein, we synthesize a phosphine-amine-linked 2D COF by a nucleophilic substitution reaction of phosphazene with amines. The synthesized COF is crystalline, and stacks in an AB-staggered fashion, wherein the AB dual layers are interlocked by embedding P−Cl bonds from one to another layer, and the non-interlocked layers are readily delaminated. Therefore, in situ post-quaternization over phosphazene can improve the ionization of backbones, accompanied by layered exfoliation. The ultrathin nanosheets can decouple lithium salts for fast solid-state ion transport, achieving a high conductivity and low activation energy. Our findings explore the P−N substitution reaction for COF crystallization and demonstrate that the staggered stacking 2D COFs are readily exfoliated for designing solid electrolytes.     

Quadrupolar Ultrafast Charge Transfer in Diaminoazobenzene-Bridged Perylenediimide Triads

Strong push-pull interactions between electron donor, diaminoazobenzene (azo), and an electron acceptor, perylenediimide (PDI), entities in the newly synthesized A−D−A type triads (A=electron acceptor and D=electron donor) and the corresponding A−D dyads are shown to reveal wide-band absorption covering the entire visible spectrum. Electrochemical studies revealed the facile reduction of PDI and relatively easier oxidation of diaminoazobenzene in the dyads and triads. Charge transfer reversal using fluorescence-spectroelectrochemistry wherein the PDI fluorescence recovery upon one-electron oxidation, deterring the charge-transfer interactions, was possible to accomplish. The charge transfer state density difference and the frontier orbitals from the DFT calculations established the electron-deficient PDI to be an electron acceptor and diaminoazobenzene to be an electron donor resulting in energetically closely positioned PDI ^δ− -Azo ^δ+ -PDI ^δ− quadrupolar charge-transfer states in the case of triads and Azo ^δ+ -PDI ^δ− dipolar charge-transfer states in the case of dyads. Subsequent femtosecond transient absorption spectral studies unequivocally proved the occurrence of excited-state charge transfer in these dyads and triads in benzonitrile wherein the calculated forward charge transfer rate constants, k_f, were limited to instrument response factor, meaning >10¹² s⁻¹ revealing the occurrence of ultrafast photo-events. The charge recombination rate constant, k_r, was found to depend on the type of donor-acceptor conjugates, that is, it was possible to establish faster k_r in the case of triads (∼10¹¹ s⁻¹) compared to dyads (∼10¹⁰ s⁻¹). Modulating both ground and excited-state properties of PDI with the help of strong quadrupolar and dipolar charge transfer and witnessing ultrafast charge transfer events in the studied triads and dyads is borne out from the present study.     

MTDTPY.TCNQ及MTDTPY.CHL电荷转移复合物晶体的电子能带结构 及其与导电性能 关系的研究

用紧束缚近似的EHMO方法对αMTDTPY.TCNQ(1)、β-MTDTPY.TCNQ(2)及MTDTPY.CHL(3)三种电荷转移复合物晶体的电子能带进行了计算。在1中,电子施体(D)分子MTDTPY及受体(A)分子TCNQ形成交替重叠的一维分子柱(M),柱间无净电荷转移。能隙E~G=0.15eV,载流子的产生主要来自热激发。在2及3中,电子施体(D)MTDTPY及受体(A)TCNQ及CHL分子分别相对独立的D及A一维分子柱,载流子的产生主要来自柱间的电荷转移。由电子能带结构及关于载流子迁移的Frohlich-Sewell公式,得出上述三种晶体的室温电导率之比为σ1:σ2:σ3=3.75×10^-^1^0:1:1.15,与实验事实基本一致。关于各分子柱对σ的贡献,2中D柱:A柱～10^3:1;3中D柱:A柱～2:1。根据计算结果,本文还对载流子的迁移机理进行了讨论。     

Impact of Imine Bond Orientations on the Geometric and Electronic Structures of Imine-based Covalent Organic Frameworks

Many efforts are currently devoted to improving the stability and crystallinity of imine-based two-dimensional (2D) covalent organic frameworks (COFs) given their wide range of potential applications. The variation in the relative orientations of the imine bonds has been found to be a critical factor that impacts the stacking of the 2D COF layers, leads to the formation of isomer structures, and influences the crystallinity of the final product. Most investigations to date have focused only on the structural properties, while the role of the imine orientations on the electronic properties has not been studied systematically. Here, we explore this effect by examining how the electronic band structures, electronic couplings, and effective masses evolve when considering four isomeric structures of an imine-linked tetraphenyl-pyrene naphthalene-diimide COF. Our results provide an understanding of the impact of the imine orientations and how they need to be controlled to realize COF inter-layer stackings that can lead to efficient cross-plane electron transport. They can be used to guide the design and synthesis of imine-based COFs for applications where charge transport needs to be optimized.     

Synthesis,characterization, and hydrazine sensing property of two covalent organic frameworks

Sensitive and efficient detection of hydrazine is of great significance because hydrazine is a highly toxic organic molecule, which can pose great threats to human health. Herein, two covalent organic frameworks (COFs) modified with ester groups in the pores, TAPB-DHE and TAPT-DHE, have been successfully synthesized via esterification reaction. Both of the two COFs have good crystallinity, thermal stability, and fluorescence properties. TAPB-DHE can be used as a turn-on fluorescence sensor for the sensitive detection of trace hydrazine in aqueous solution with a detection limit of 0.40 μM and a wide linear range of 0–100 μM due to the fluorescence enhancement of TAPB-DHE caused by the chemical reaction between hydrazine and TAPB-DHE, in which the ester group of the COF is converted into hydroxyl group, leading to the restriction of the intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) effect. This work provides a reference for the design of COFs with hydrazine recognition function and a helpful expansion for the practical application of COFs.     

Unraveling the effect of defects,domain size,and chemical doping on photophysics and charge transport in covalent organic frameworks

Understanding the underlying physical mechanisms that govern charge transport in two-dimensional (2D) covalent organic frameworks (COFs) will facilitate the development of novel COF-based devices for optoelectronic and thermoelectric applications. In this context, the low-energy mid-infrared absorption contains valuable information about the structure–property relationships and the extent of intra- and inter-framework “hole” polaron delocalization in doped and undoped polymeric materials. In this study, we provide a quantitative characterization of the intricate interplay between electronic defects, domain sizes, pore volumes, chemical dopants, and three dimensional anisotropic charge migration in 2D COFs. We compare our simulations with recent experiments on doped COF films and establish the correlations between polaron coherence, conductivity, and transport signatures. By obtaining the first quantitative agreement with the measured absorption spectra of iodine doped (aza)triangulene-based COF, we highlight the fundamental differences between the underlying microstructure, spectral signatures, and transport physics of polymers and COFs. Our findings provide conclusive evidence of why iodine doped COFs exhibit lower conductivity compared to doped polythiophenes. Finally, we propose new research directions to address existing limitations and improve charge transport in COFs for applications in functional molecular electronic devices.

This study highlights the importance of mid-infrared spectral signatures and discusses the fundamental mechanisms driving charge transport in COFs. Our analysis can hopefully guide the rational design of new COFs yielding higher conductivities.     

Challenges and perspectives of covalent organic frameworks for advanced alkali-metal ion batteries

Covalent organic frameworks(COFs) are a class of porous crystalline polymers that have been widely investigated in various fields, including energy storage, photo/electrocatalysis, drug delivery. The covalent-bond interconnection allows COFs extraordinary chemical and thermal stability, and the porous structure ensures a high ion-diffusion coefficient. These merits compensate for the drawbacks of organic electrodes that are easy to dissolve and have low charge conductivity, and promote the development of novel electrode materials with excellent performance, environmental friendliness, and low price. However, the application of COFs also encountered many problems, such as poor electronic conductivity due to the large band gap. Moreover,in some three-dimensional(3D) COFs and stacked two-dimensional(2D) COFs, the huge crystal structure, aligned ultralong channels, and numerous crystal defects usually impede ion transport, and the large molecular weights of COFs generally decrease the specific capacities. These issues are urgently needed to be solved. Here in this review, we summarize the latest progress, core challenges and coping strategies concerning with the use of COFs in alkali-metal ion batteries, discuss the impact of material structure on energy storage, and propose strategies for the construction of high-performance COF-based electrodes.     

共价有机框架材料固定化酶的研究进展

共价有机框架（Covalent Organic Frameworks, COFs）是一种新型的多孔材料,具有结构规整、骨架稳定、孔径结构可调等特点,被视为固定化酶的理想载体。我们主要总结了近10年来COFs材料作为载体,通过物理吸附、共价连接、包埋的固定化策略制备固定化酶的研究进展与应用,并讨论了COFs材料在酶固定化领域所面临的机遇和挑战。     

Boosting CO2 Photoreduction via Regulating Charge Transfer Ability in a One-Dimensional Covalent Organic Framework

Two-dimensional (2D) imine-based covalent organic frameworks (COFs) hold potential for photocatalytic CO₂ reduction. However, high energy barrier of imine linkage impede the in-plane photoelectron transfer process, resulting in inadequate efficiency of CO₂ photoreduction. Herein, we present a dimensionality induced local electronic modulation strategy through the construction of one-dimensional (1D) pyrene-based covalent organic frameworks (PyTTA-COF). The dual-chain-like edge architectures of 1D PyTTA-COF enable the stabilization of aromatic backbones, thus reducing energy loss during exciton dissociation and thermal relaxation, which provides energetic photoelectron to traverse the energy barrier of imine linkages. As a result, the 1D PyTTA-COF exhibits significantly enhanced CO₂ photoreduction activity under visible-light irradiation when coordinated with metal cobalt ion, yielding a remarkable CO evolution of 1003 μmol g⁻¹ over an 8-hour period, which surpasses that of the corresponding 2D counterpart by a factor of 59. These findings present a valuable approach to address in-plane charge transfer limitations in imine-based COFs.     

Covalent Organic Framework Materials for Photo/ Electrocatalytic Carbon Dioxide Reduction北大核心CSCD

Covalent organic frameworks （COFs）are a class of emerging materials connected by covalent bonds,which have high thermal/chemical stability （except boric acid COFs）,permanent porosity,large specific surface area and good crystallinity. In addition,the structure of the monomer unit in COFs is adjustable and can coordinate with many transition metal ions to provide catalytic active sites. These advantages make COFs helpful to catalyze various reactions. Among them,COFs have an excellent catalytic effect on the CO2 reduction reaction（CO2 RR）. This is mainly because the adjustable pore structure of COFs allows them to adsorb a large amount of CO2 and the π-π stacking structure in COFs can promote charge transfer, which can greatly improve the efficiency of CO2 reduction. COFs can be used as photo/ electrocatalysts to efficiently reduce CO2 to CO,CH4 ,HCOOH and other products. This review discusses the important achievements of CO2 RR catalyzed by COFs, including photo/electrocatalytic CO2 RR and photoelectric coupling CO2 RR. In addition,the future development of COFs as CO2 RR catalysts is also prospected. © 2022, Science Press (China). All rights reserved.     

Hexaazatriphenylene-Based Two-Dimensional Conductive Covalent Organic Framework with Anisotropic Charge Transfer

The development of covalent organic frameworks (COFs) with efficient charge transport is of immense interest for applications in optoelectronic devices. To enhance COF charge transport properties, electroactive building blocks and dopants can be used to induce extended conduction channels. However, understanding their intricate interplay remains challenging. We designed and synthesized a tailor-made COF structure with electroactive hexaazatriphenylene (HAT) core units and planar dioxin (D) linkages, denoted as HD-COF. With the support of theoretical calculations, we found that the HAT units in the HD-COF induce strong, eclipsed π–π stacking. The unique stacking of HAT units and the weak in-plane conjugation of dioxin linkages leads to efficient anisotropic charge transport. We fabricated HD-COF films to minimize the grain boundary effect of bulk COFs, which resulted in enhanced conductivity. As a result, the HD-COF films showed an electrical conductivity as high as 1.25 S cm⁻¹ after doping with tris(4-bromophenyl)ammoniumyl hexachloroantimonate.     

Experimental and theoretical insights into copper phthalocyanine-based covalent organic frameworks for highly efficient radioactive iodine capture

Exploring efficient materials for capturing radioactive iodine in nuclear waste is of great significance for the progress of nuclear energy as well as the protection of ecological environment. Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have emerged as promising adsorbents because of their predesignable and functionalizable skeleton structures. However, it remains a grand challenge to achieve large scale preparation of COFs. In this work, we developed a mild and efficient microwave irradiation method instead of the traditional solvothermal method to prepare copper phthalocyanine-based covalent organic frameworks (Cu_xPc-COFs) within only 15 min. The nitrogen-rich 1,2,4,5-tetracarbonitrilebenzene (TCNB) was selected as the solely organic ligand to construct copper phthalocyanine-based 2D conjugated COFs. The resultant Cu_xPc-COFs exhibited excellent iodine enrichment with 2.99 g/g for volatile iodine and 492.27 mg/g for iodine-cyclohexane solution, respectively, outperforming that of many porous materials. As indicated by spectroscopic analysis and DFT calculations, this impressive adsorption performance can be attributed to the charge transfer arising from nitrogen-rich phthalocyanine structures and electron-rich π-conjugated systems with iodine molecules. Moreover, the strong electrostatic interaction between Cu(II) on chelate centers and polyiodide anions (I_x^?) also play an important role in the firmly trapping radioactive iodine. Therefore, this study provides a facile and intelligent approach to implement metal-based COFs for the remediation of toxic radioactive iodine.     

Porphyrin-based donor–acceptor COFs as efficient and reusable photocatalysts for PET-RAFT polymerization under broad spectrum excitation

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are crystalline and porous organic materials attractive for photocatalysis applications due to their structural versatility and tunable optical and electronic properties. The use of photocatalysts (PCs) for polymerizations enables the preparation of well-defined polymeric materials under mild reaction conditions. Herein, we report two porphyrin-based donor–acceptor COFs that are effective heterogeneous PCs for photoinduced electron transfer-reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (PET-RAFT). Using density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we designed porphyrin COFs with strong donor–acceptor characteristics and delocalized conduction bands. The COFs were effective PCs for PET-RAFT, successfully polymerizing a variety of monomers in both organic and aqueous media using visible light (λ_max from 460 to 635 nm) to produce polymers with tunable molecular weights (MWs), low molecular weight dispersity, and good chain-end fidelity. The heterogeneous COF PCs could also be reused for PET-RAFT polymerization at least 5 times without losing photocatalytic performance. This work demonstrates porphyrin-based COFs that are effective catalysts for photo-RDRP and establishes design principles for the development of highly active COF PCs for a variety of applications.

Porphyrin-based donor–acceptor COFs are effective heterogeneous photocatalysts for photoinduced electron transfer-reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (PET-RAFT), including for aqueous polymerizations and under red-light excitation.