Solvent-Driven Precise Control of Stacking Configurations in Covalent Organic Frameworks for High-Efficiency Photocatalysis

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Yixue Xu - , Southeast University, Nanjing (Author)
  • Fan Qiu - , Southeast University, Nanjing (Author)
  • Yubin Fu - , Center for Advancing Electronics Dresden (cfaed), Chair of Molecular Functional Materials (cfaed), Southeast University, Nanjing (Author)
  • Shun Feng Li - , Southeast University, Nanjing (Author)
  • Xing Su - , Southeast University, Nanjing (Author)
  • Kunquan Hong - , Southeast University, Nanjing (Author)
  • Mei Mei Zhang - , Wuhan University (Author)
  • Xin Zhao - , Southeast University, Nanjing, CAS - Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry (Author)
  • Yuqiao Wang - , Southeast University, Nanjing (Author)
  • Shun Qi Xu - , Southeast University, Nanjing (Author)

Abstract

Two-dimensional covalent organic frameworks (2D COFs) have emerged as promising photocatalysts due to their high surface areas and precisely tunable physicochemical properties. However, it remains a significant challenge to precisely control over interlayer stacking configurations in 2D COFs, which critically influence charge carrier transport and consequently determine catalytic efficiency. In this study, we demonstrate a solvent-driven strategy to precisely regulate the interlayer stacking configurations of metal-incorporated 2D COFs, successfully achieving both AA eclipsed (COF-TD-AA) and ABC staggered (COF-TD-ABC) configurations. Notably, by modulating the coordination interactions between solvent 1-butanol and Zn2+ (within the COFs), the interactions between the Zn2+ and nitrogen atoms (from imine bonds, pyridine, and triazine units) can be precisely tuned, which leads to the formation of AA or ABC stacked 2D COFs. Interestingly, the ABC-stacked COF-TD-ABC exhibited an extended light absorption and superior charge migration/separation efficiency than those of COF-TD-AA. As a result, when coupled with Pt co-catalysts, COF-TD-ABC achieved a high hydrogen evolution rate up to 10.92 mmol g−1 h−1, representing a ∼3.5-fold enhancement over COF-TD-AA (3.12 mmol g−1 h−1). This work provides a fundamental insight into the stacking-dependent structure-property relationships in COFs, paving the way for the rational design of high-performance COF-based photocatalysts.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere202512603
JournalAngewandte Chemie - International Edition
Volume64
Issue number41
Early online date29 Aug 2025
Publication statusPublished - 6 Oct 2025
Peer-reviewedYes

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Keywords

  • Covalent organic frameworks, Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction, Solvent-assisted synthesis, Stacking modulation, Structure-property relationship