Nanoscale covalent organic frameworks for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen production

Abstract Nanosizing confers unique functions in materials such as graphene and quantum dots. Here, we present two nanoscale-covalent organic frameworks (nano-COFs) that exhibit exceptionally high activity for photocatalytic hydrogen production that results from their size and morphology. Compared to bulk analogues, the downsizing of COFs crystals using surfactants provides greatly improved water dispersibility and light-harvesting properties. One of these nano-COFs shows a hydrogen evolution rate of 392.0 mmol g −1 h −1 (33.3 μmol h −1 ), which is one of the highest mass-normalized rates reported for a COF or any other organic photocatalysts. A reverse concentration-dependent photocatalytic phenomenon is…

• IR
  Innovative Research Group Project of the National Natural Science Foundation of China
• LT
  Leverhulme Trust
• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Awards: 22375062, 2023QNRC001, 2018SHZDZX03
• EC
  East China University of Science and Technology
• SE
  Shanghai Education Development Foundation

  Award: 22CGA32
• SM
  Shanghai Municipal Education Commission

  Award: 22CGA32
• LR
  Leverhulme Research Centre for Functional Materials Design
• EA
  Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

  Awards: EP/N004884/1, EP/P034497/1, EP/P034497/1, EP/N004884/1, EP/N004884
• FR
  Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities

  Award: 2018SHZDZX03