Nanoscale covalent organic frameworks for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen production.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 39090140.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41467-024-50839-3 and PMC identifier 11294449.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
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<sup>-1</sup> h<sup>-1</sup> (33.3 μmol h<sup>-1</sup>), 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 observed, whereby a higher photocatalytic activity is found at a lower catalyst concentration. These materials also show a molecule-like excitonic nature, as studied by photoluminescence and transient absorption spectroscopy, which is again a function of their nanoscale dimensions. This charts a new path to highly efficient organic photocatalysts for solar fuel production.