Photocatalytic CO<sub>2</sub> reduction to syngas using metallosalen covalent organic frameworks.

Zhou, Wei; Wang, Xiao; Zhao, Wenling; Lu, Naijia; Cong, Die; Li, Zhen; Han, Peigeng; Ren, Guoqing et al. · Nat Commun · 2023

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Metallosalen-covalent organic frameworks have recently gained attention in photocatalysis. However, their use in CO<sub>2</sub> photoreduction is yet to be reported. Moreover, facile preparation of metallosalen-covalent organic frameworks with good crystallinity remains considerably challenging. Herein, we report a series of metallosalen-covalent organic frameworks produced via a one-step synthesis strategy that does not require vacuum evacuation. Metallosalen-covalent organic frameworks possessing controllable coordination environments of mononuclear and binuclear metal sites are obtained and act as photocatalysts for tunable syngas production from CO<sub>2</sub>. Metallosalen-covalent organic frameworks obtained via one-step synthesis exhibit higher crystallinity and catalytic activities than those obtained from two-step synthesis. The optimal framework material containing cobalt and triazine achieves a syngas production rate of 19.7 mmol g<sup>-1</sup> h<sup>-1</sup> (11:8 H<sub>2</sub>/CO), outperforming previously reported porous crystalline materials. This study provides a facile strategy for producing metallosalen-covalent organic frameworks of high quality and can accelerate their exploration in various applications.