Abstract:

Covalent Organic Frameworks (COFs) represent a unique class of crystalline, porous materials with highly tunable structures. In recent years, COFs have gained significant attention due to their potential in environmental remediation and clean energy production, particularly in photocatalysis, where their modular nature allows for precise control over electronic properties and surface activity. In this contest, our latest developments in COF-based materials have been focused on strategies to enhance their photocatalytic performance. Key approaches include the incorporation of donor-acceptor building blocks to reduce bandgaps and increase electron mobility, as well as hybridization with inorganic semiconductors or with metal centers to improve charge separation and electron transfer. These advances have led to the development of highly efficient COFs for applications in water remediation, pollutant degradation, and the inactivation of biological agents. In addition, special attention is given to the role of surface and optoelectronic properties in driving photocatalytic efficiency, with insights gained through advanced characterization techniques such as Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). By establishing structure-activity relationships enable the creation of rational designs for the next-generation photocatalysts with enhanced performance for sustainable environmental and energy solutions.