Covalent Organic Frameworks for Efficient Energy Electrocatalysis: Rational Design and Progress

• Published in: Advanced energy and sustainability research 2021-04, Vol.2 (4), p.n/a
• Main Authors: Zhang, Hua, Zhu, Minshen, Schmidt, Oliver G., Chen, Shuiliang, Zhang, Kai
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acids; air batteries; Bonding strength; Carbon; Catalysts; Catalytic activity; catalytic kinetics; Chemical bonds; Chemical reduction; Chemical synthesis; clean and sustainable energy conversions; clean fuels; Covalence; Covalent bonds; covalent organic frameworks; Design; Design factors; Design optimization; Electrocatalysis; Electrocatalysts; Energy; Engineering; Gases; Graphene; Hydrogen evolution reactions; Metals; Molecular structure; Oxygen evolution reactions; Oxygen reduction reactions; Poisoning; Reaction kinetics
• ISSN: 2699-9412; 2699-9412
• DOI: 10.1002/aesr.202000090

An efficient catalyst with a precisely designed and predictable structure is highly desired to optimize its performance and understand the mechanism beyond the catalytic activity. Covalent organic frameworks (COFs), as an emerging class of framework materials linked by strong covalent bonds, simultaneously allow precise structure design with predictable synthesis and show advantages of large surface areas, tunable pore sizes, and unique molecular architectures. Although the research on COF‐based electrocatalysts is at an early age, significant progress has been made. Herein, the recent significant progress in the design and synthesis of COFs as highly efficient electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), oxygen evolution reaction (OER), and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is summarized. Design principles for COFs as efficient electrocatalysts are discussed by considering essential factors for catalyzing the OER, ORR, and HER processes at the molecular level. Herein, a summary on the in‐depth understanding of the catalytic mechanism and kinetics limitations of COFs provides a general instruction for further exploring their vast potential for designing highly efficient electrocatalysts. Recent significant progress in the design and synthesis of covalent organic frameworks (COFs) as highly efficient electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), oxygen evolution reaction (OER), and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is summarized and highlighted. Particular attention is focused on the design principles for COFs electrocatalysts for catalyzing the OER, ORR, and HER processes at the molecular level.