On-demand linkage cleavage in two-dimensional conjugated metal-organic frameworks for closed-loop recyclable electronics
Research output: Contribution to journal › Research article › Contributed › peer-review
Abstract
The rapid growth of modern electronics has intensified concerns about electronic waste management at the end of a product's life. Integrating closed-loop recyclability, where electronic materials can be efficiently recovered, reprocessed, and reused in regenerated products, is essential for achieving sustainable development, minimizing environmental impact, and realizing long-term economic benefits. However, achieving closed-loop recycling remains particularly challenging for complex electronic materials. Here, we demonstrate the closed-loop recycling of emerging multifunctional two-dimensional conjugated metal-organic frameworks (2D c-MOFs) through a mechanochemistry-induced on-demand degradation strategy. Exemplified with 2,3,6,7,10,11-hexahydroxytriphenylene (HHTP)-based 2D c-MOFs, we show that ultrasonic cavitation facilitates selective cleavage of metal-ligand linkages in alkaline solutions enabling rapid material degradation (up to 92.4% within 30 min). The HHTP monomers are subsequently recovered with high purity and yield (96.3%), and reused to regenerate 2D c-MOFs, establishing a complete circular material life cycle. Our cradle-to-cradle life-cycle assessment reveals that, compared with direct synthesis, this closed-loop recycling approach substantially reduces both total energy consumption (52 versus 358 MJ kg-1) and greenhouse gas (CO2) emission (4.8 versus 27.4 kg CO2-equiv), thereby substantially lowering the overall environmental impact relative to conventional electronic materials. Moreover, we demonstrate the practical utility of these recyclable 2D c-MOFs in several applications, including hydrogen gas sensors, supercapacitor electrodes, and degradable printed electronic devices. These results highlight the potential of 2D c-MOFs to advance circular electronics, laying the groundwork for a sustainable transformation within the electronics industry.
Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | eaed9532 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Journal | Science advances |
| Volume | 12 |
| Issue number | 21 |
| Publication status | Published - 22 May 2026 |
| Peer-reviewed | Yes |
External IDs
| PubMed | 42172316 |
|---|---|
| ORCID | /0000-0002-6574-7848/work/217234442 |
| ORCID | /0000-0002-0211-0778/work/217236997 |
| ORCID | /0000-0002-4349-793X/work/217237780 |
| ORCID | /0000-0003-0498-5735/work/217239197 |
| ORCID | /0000-0002-0666-3273/work/217239199 |