Pd NP-Loaded and Covalently Cross-Linked COF Membrane Microreactor for Aqueous CBs Dechlorination at Room Temperature

Confining metal nanoparticles and nanoclusters in covalent organic frameworks for biosensing and biomedicine

Metal nanoscale particles, primarily including metal nanoparticles (MNPs) and nanoclusters (MNCs), have garnered substantial interests owing to their unique electronic configurations and distinct physicochemical properties. However, practical applications are frequently constrained by their limited stability and aggregation tendency. Covalent organic frameworks (COFs), featuring highly ordered periodic architectures, have emerged as ideal porous matrices for hosting metal nanoparticles. The resulting metal-embedded COFs synthesized through adsorption methods (M/COFs) or in-situ reduction (M@COFs) not only mitigate nanoparticle aggregation and enhance stability but also demonstrate synergistic effects that generate enhanced or novel functionalities, significantly broadening their application potential. This review firstly examines adsorption-based synthesis strategies for M/COFs through physical and chemical approaches. Subsequently, we analyze in-situ reduction methods for M@COFs, categorizing them by reduction pathways: deposition, impregnation-pyrolysis, and "one-step" synthesis. Special attention is given to an emerging pore wall engineering strategy within in-situ reduction approach. The biosensing and biomedical applications of metal-embedded COFs are systematically examined, highlighting their comparative advantages over conventional nanomaterials in sensing and antimicrobial applications. While metal-embedded COFs remain in their developmental infancy and face considerable challenges, the controlled synthesis of multifunctional variants promises transformative potential across biomedical domains.

Dual-filler mixed matrix membrane with covalent-organic framework and nano TiO2/polyether sulfone for efficient antibody purification

With the rapid expansion of antibody drug market, most biopharmaceutical industries urgently need to optimize their downstream purification processes to reduce production costs and improve market competitiveness. In this study, a dual-filler polyether sulfone (PES) mixed matrix membrane (MMM) that combines covalent-organic framework (COF) with nano TiO2 was developed to overcome the drawbacks of conventional protein A based purification methods. Firstly, COF@TiO2 dual-filler was prepared by Schiff base reaction. The proposed dual-filler MMM was fabricated via nonsolvent-induced phase separation (NIPS), followed by functionalization with a Fab-specific affinity peptide (m-EDPW) of trastuzumab through atom-transfer radical-polymerization method. The resulting m-EDPW@COF@TiO2/PES affinity membrane effectively integrates the merits of COF and TiO2 and show synergistic effects, demonstrating satisfactory hydrophilicity, anti-fouling ability (BSA rejection rate: 97.7 %), enrichment recovery (90.8 %), binding capacity for trastuzumab (386.6 mg/g), and long-term stability (∼ 21 days). Particularly, this affinity membrane showed good selectivity and specificity, enabling the successful purification of trastuzumab from spiked HCC1937 cancer cell culture medium with satisfactory purity (~ 97.4 %) and preservation of the antibody secondary structure. This study not only developed a novel affinity membrane with satisfactory antibody separation performance but also opened a new route for developing dual-filler or multi-filler MMM for highly efficient downstream protein purification.

One-Pot, Solvent Free Synthesis of 2,5-Furandicarboxylic Acid from Deep Eutectic Mixtures of Sugars as Mediated by Bifunctional Catalyst

Currently one-pot conversion of sugars to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) is of significant interest due to the attainability of sugars as a feedstock and the enormous potential of FDCA as a bioplastic monomer. However, it remains challenging to construct efficient catalysts for this process. In this study, Co3O4 species were anchored to a sulfonated covalent organic framework thus affording a bifunctional catalyst (Co3O4@COF-SO3H). The sulfonic acid sites dehydrate sugars to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), which is next oxidized to FDCA as catalyzed by the Co3O4 species. Such a process was applied in the conversion of various binary and ternary deep eutectic mixtures involving choline chloride and sugars without additional solvent. The maximum FDCA yield of 84 % was obtained using glucose-fructose eutectic mixture as the substrates. Moreover, the catalyst was recyclable and stable under the applied reaction conditions. Our process eliminates the employment of organic solvents and expensive noble metal catalysts, resulting in green and economic biomass conversions.

Multispatially Localized DNA Walker Coupling Covalent Organic Framework for Dual-Mode Detection of Nucleocapsid Protein Using the Walking-Recycling-Conversion Strategy

DNA walkers have emerged as a powerful tool in bioanalysis; however, many existing approaches are still restricted by low reaction kinetics and inaccurate single-mode detection. Herein, a fluorescence (FL) and electrochemical (EC) dual-mode biosensor was proposed based on a multispatially localized DNA walker (m-DNA walker) coupling covalent organic framework (COF) using the walking-recycling-conversion strategy. Specifically, the functionalized COF not only served as a three-dimensional nanocarrier but also acted as an effective quencher of the walking tracks. In the presence of the target, the activated m-DNA walker moved fast along the numerous quenching tracks, leading to the cleavage of Cy3-H1 and the recovery of the FL signal. To further improve the detection sensitivity, the Cy3-H1 fragments' recycling process was implemented with the generation of a large amount of S1 and S2, which caused the assembly of DNA-Fe3+-polydopamine network amplifiers on the electrode. The rapid electrochemical conversion was introduced to convert DNA-Fe3+-polydopamine into electroactive Prussian Blue, providing a significant EC signal output. Using nucleocapsid protein (N-protein) as the model target, the designed biosensing platform produced a FL/EC dual-mode readout with the detection limits of 65.0 fg/mL for FL mode and 2.3 fg/mL for EC mode, which could eliminate the interference from different reactive pathways and improve the detection accuracy, holding potential application in early disease diagnosis and treatment.

Covalent Organic Framework Nanoarchitectonics: Recent Advances for Precious Metal Recovery

The recovery of precious metals (PMs) from secondary resources has garnered significant attention due to environmental and economic considerations. Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have emerged as promising adsorbents for this purpose, owing to their tunable pore size, facile functionalization, exceptional chemical stability, and large specific surface area. This review provides an overview of the latest research progress in utilizing COFs to recover PMs. Firstly, the design and synthesis strategies of chemically stable COF-based materials, including pristine COFs, functionalized COFs, and COF-based composites, are delineated. Furthermore, the application of COFs in the recovery of gold, silver, and platinum group elements is delved into, emphasizing their high adsorption capacity and selectivity as well as recycling ability. Additionally, various interaction mechanisms between COFs and PM ions are analyzed. Finally, the current challenges faced by COFs in the field of PM recovery are discussed, and potential directions for future development are proposed, including enhancing the recyclability and reusability of COF materials and realizing the high recovery of PMs from actual acidic wastewater. With the targeted development of COF-based materials, the recovery of PMs can be realized more economically and efficiently in the future.

Hydrazone-Linked Covalent Organic Frameworks

Hydrazone-linked covalent organic frameworks (COFs) with structural flexibility, heteroatomic sites, post-modification ability and high hydrolytic stability have attracted great attention from scientific community. Hydrazone-linked COFs, as a subclass of Schiff-base COFs, was firstly reported in 2011 by Yaghi's group and later witnessed prosperous development in various aspects. Their adjustable structures, precise pore channels and plentiful heteroatomic sites of hydrazone-linked structures possess much potential in diverse applications, for example, adsorption/separation, chemical sensing, catalysis and energy storage, etc. Up to date, the systematic reviews about the reported hydrazone-linked COFs are still rare. Therefore, in this review, we will summarize their preparation methods, characteristics and related applications, and discuss the opportunity or challenge of hydrazone-linked COFs. We hope this review could provide new insights about hydrazone-linked COFs for exploring more appealing functions or applications.

3D-Continuous Nanoporous Covalent Framework Membrane Nanoreactors with Quantitatively Loaded Ultrafine Pd Nanocatalysts

The confinement effect of catalytic nanoreactors containing metal catalysts within nanometer-sized volumes has attracted significant attention for their potential to enhance reaction rate and selectivity. Nevertheless, unregulated catalyst loading, aggregation, leaching, and limited reusability remain obstacles to achieving an efficient nanoreactor. A robust and durable catalytic membrane nanoreactor prepared by incorporating palladium nanocatalysts within a 3D-continuous nanoporous covalent framework membrane is presented. The reduction of palladium precursor occurs on the pore surface within 3D nanochannels, producing ultrafine palladium nanoparticles (Pd NPs) with their number density adjustable by varying metal precursor concentrations. The precise catalyst loading enables controlling the catalytic activity of the reactor while preventing excess metal usage. The facile preparation of Pd NP-loaded free-standing membrane materials allows hydrodechlorination in both batch and continuous flow modes. In batch mode, the catalytic activity is proportional to the loaded Pd amount and membrane area, while the membrane retains its activity upon repeated use. In continuous mode, the conversion remains above 95% for over 100 h, with the reactant solution passing through a single 50 µm-thick Pd-loaded membrane. The efficient nanoporous film-type catalytic nanoreactor may find applications in catalytic reactions for small chemical devices as well as in conventional chemistry and processes.

Metalated covalent organic frameworks as efficient catalysts for multicomponent tandem reactions

Multicomponent tandem reactions have become indispensable synthetic methods due to their economic advantages and efficient usage in natural products and drug synthesis. The emergence of metalated covalent organic frameworks (MCOFs) has opened up new opportunities for the advancement of multicomponent tandem reactions. In contrast to commonly used homogeneous transition metal catalysts, MCOFs possess regular porosity, high crystallinity, and rich metal chelation sites that facilitate the uniform distribution and anchoring of metals within their cavities. Thus, they show extremely high activity and have recently been widely employed as catalysts for multicomponent tandem reactions. It is timely to conduct a review of MCOFs in multicomponent tandem reactions, in order to offer guidance and assistance for the synthesis of MCOF catalysts and their application in multicomponent tandem reactions. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the design and synthesis of MCOFs, their application and progress in multicomponent tandem reactions, and the primary challenges encountered during their current development with the aim of contributing to the promotion of the field.

Thiol-Ene Click Reaction in Constructing Liquid Separation Membranes for Water Treatment

In the evolving landscape of water treatment, membrane technology has ascended to an instrumental role, underscored by its unmatched efficacy and ubiquity. Diverse synthesis and modification techniques are employed to fabricate state-of-the-art liquid separation membranes. Click reactions, distinguished by their rapid kinetics, minimal byproduct generation, and simple reaction condition, emerge as a potent paradigm for devising eco-functional materials. While the metal-free thiol-ene click reaction is acknowledged as a viable approach for membrane material innovation, a systematic elucidation of its applicability in liquid separation membrane development remains conspicuously absent. This review elucidates the pre-functionalization strategies of substrate materials tailored for thiol-ene reactions, notably highlighting thiolation and introducing unsaturated moieties. The consequential implications of thiol-ene reactions on membrane properties-including trade-off effect, surface wettability, and antifouling property-are discussed. The application of thiol-ene reaction in fabricating various liquid separation membranes for different water treatment processes, including wastewater treatment, oil/water separation, and ion separation, are reviewed. Finally, the prospects of thiol-ene reaction in designing novel liquid separation membrane, including pre-functionalization, products prediction, and solute-solute separation membrane, are proposed. This review endeavors to furnish invaluable insights, paving the way for expanding the horizons of thiol-ene reaction application in liquid separation membrane fabrication.

Orthogonal Postsynthetic Copolymerization of Hydrogen-Bonded Organic Frameworks into a PolyHOF Membrane

Hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (HOFs) have shown promise in various fields; however, the construction of HOF/polymer hybrid membranes that can maintain both structural and functional integrity remains challenging. In this study, we here fabricated a new HOF (HOF-50) with reserved polymerizable allyl group via charge-assisted H-bonds between the carboxylate anion and amidinium, and subsequently copolymerized the HOF with monomers to construct a covalently bonded HOF/polymer hybrid (polyHOF) membrane. The resulting polyHOF membrane not only exhibits customizable mechanical properties and extreme stability, but also shows an exceptional ratiometric luminescent temperature-sensing function with very high sensitivity and visibility even when the lanthanide content is two orders of magnitude lower than that of the reported mixed-lanthanide metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and lanthanide-doped covalent organic frameworks (COFs). This orthogonal postsynthesis copolymerization strategy may provide a general approach for preparing covalently connected HOF/polymer hybrid membranes for diverse applications.

One-pot Construction of Metal Nanoparticles Loaded COF Catalysts for Aqueous Hydrogenation Reactions

The catalysis performance of metal nanoparticles (NPs) will be significantly deteriorated because of their spontaneous agglomeration during practical applications. Covalent-organic frameworks (COFs) materials with functional groups and well-defined channels benefit for the dispersion and anchor of metal ions and the confined growth of metal NPs, working as an ideal platform to compose catalytic systems. In this article, we report a one-pot strategy for the preparation of metal NPs loaded COFs without the need of post-modification. During the polymerization process, the pre-added metal ions were stabilized by the rapidly formed COF oligomers and hardly disturb the construction of COFs. After reduction, metal NPs are uniformly anchored on the COF matrix. Eventually, a wide spectrum of metal NPs, including Au, Pd, Pt, AuPd, CuPd, CuPt and CuPdPt, loaded COFs are successfully prepared. The versatility and metal ions anchoring mechanism are verified with four different COF matrixes. Taking AuPd NPs as example, the resultant AuPd NPs loaded COF materials can selectively decompose ammonium formate and produce hydrogen in-situ, exhibiting over 99 % conversion of hydrodechlorination for chlorobenzenes and nitro-reduction reaction for nitroaromatic compounds under ambient temperature in aqueous solution.

Recent advances of pure/independent covalent organic framework membrane materials: preparation, properties and separation applications

Covalent organic frameworks (COF) are porous crystalline polymers connected by covalent bonds. Due to their inherent high specific surface area, tunable pore size, and good stability, they have attracted extensive attention from researchers. In recent years, COF membrane materials developed rapidly, and a large amount of research work has been presented on the preparation methods, properties, and applications of COF membranes. This review focuses on the research on independent/pure continuous COF membranes. First, based on the membrane formation mechanism, COF membrane preparation methods are categorized into two main groups: bottom-up and top-down. Four methods are presented, namely, solvothermal, interfacial polymerization, steam-assisted conversion, and layer by layer. Then, the aperture, hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity and surface charge properties of COF membranes are summarized and outlined. According to the application directions of gas separation, water treatment, organic solvent nanofiltration, pervaporation and energy, the latest research results of COF membranes are presented. Finally, the challenges and future directions of COF membranes are summarized and an outlook provided. It is hoped that this work will inspire and motivate researchers in related fields.

The Keto-Switched Photocatalysis of Reconstructed Covalent Organic Frameworks for Efficient Hydrogen Evolution

The keto-switched photocatalysis of covalent organic frameworks (COFs) for efficient H2 evolution was reported for the first time by engineering, at a molecular level, the local structure and component of the skeletal building blocks. A series of imine-linked BT-COFs were synthesized by the Schiff-base reaction of 1, 3, 5-benzenetrialdehyde with diamines to demonstrate the structural reconstruction of enol to keto configurations by alkaline catalysis. The keto groups of the skeletal building blocks served as active injectors, where hot π-electrons were provided to Pt nanoparticles (NPs) across a polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) insulting layer. The characterization results, together with density functional theory calculations, indicated clearly that the formation of keto-injectors not only made the conduction band level more negative, but also led to an inhomogeneous charge distribution in the donor-acceptor molecular building blocks to form a strong intramolecular built-in electric field. As a result, visible-light photocatalysis of TP-COFs-1 with one keto group in the skeletal building blocks was successfully enabled and achieved an impressive H2 evolution rate as high as 0.96 mmol g-1  h-1 . Also, the photocatalytic H2 evolution rates of the reconstructed BT-COFs-2 and -3 with two and three keto-injectors were significantly enhanced by alkaline post-treatment.

A facile COF loaded-molybdate resonance Rayleigh scattering and fluorescence dimode probe for determination of trace PO43

A new covalent organic framework loaded-molybdate (COF_Mo) nanomaterial was prepared simply by solvothermal procedure and characterized by electron microscopy and molecular spectral techniques. The COF_Mo had a strong resonance Rayleigh scattering (RRS) signal at 465 nm and a fluorescence peak at 345 nm. When the PO₄^3- was added in the system, it reacted with the molybdate, which loaded on the surface of COF particles, to form stable phosphomolybdic acid occurring RRS/fluorescence-energy transfer, the RRS and fluorescence signals were decreased. The decreased RRS/fluorescence intensities were linear to the PO₄^3- concentration in the range of 0.053-3.2 nmol/L and 0.10-3.2 nmol/L, with a detection limit of 0.050 nmol/L and 0.090 nmol/L respectively. Accordingly, a new and facile RRS/fluorescence dimode method for detection of trace PO₄^3- was established, only one fluorometer was used.

Metalated covalent organic frameworks: from synthetic strategies to diverse applications

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are a class of organic crystalline porous materials discovered in the early 21st century that have become an attractive class of emerging materials due to their high crystallinity, intrinsic porosity, structural regularity, diverse functionality, design flexibility, and outstanding stability. However, many chemical and physical properties strongly depend on the presence of metal ions in materials for advanced applications, but metal-free COFs do not have these properties and are therefore excluded from such applications. Metalated COFs formed by combining COFs with metal ions, while retaining the advantages of COFs, have additional intriguing properties and applications, and have attracted considerable attention over the past decade. This review presents all aspects of metalated COFs, from synthetic strategies to various applications, in the hope of promoting the continued development of this young field.

Metal-organic framework grown in situ on chitosan microspheres as robust host of palladium for heterogeneous catalysis: Suzuki reaction and the p-nitrophenol reduction

In this study, the metal-organic framework ZIF-8 has been successfully planted on the surface of chitosan microspheres (CS/PDA@ZIF-8) using polydopamine as connecting material for the first time, which avoids the use of expensive, non-renewable, and non-biodegradable polystyrene microspheres commonly used as templates to prepare core-shell structures. Moreover, the metal-organic framework ZIF-8 was prepared specially by three different methods and all characterized by SEM, TEM, and BET, and the ZIF-8 shell prepared at room temperature presents a regular morphology, uniform size, large specific surface area (353.1 m²/g) than the shells prepared by the other methods including. The CS/PDA@ZIF-8₂₅@Pd with high catalytic activity and high stability was especially prepared by encapsulating Pd nanoparticles into the pores of CS/PDA@ZIF-8₂₅. Notably, the fabricated catalyst performed well in an array of reactions, for example the Kapp value of the p-nitrophenol reduction reaction reached 0.0426 s^-1, and the TOF of the Suzuki coupling reaction reached 128 h^-1. In addition, the ZIF-67, UiO-66, UiO-66-NH₂, HKUST-1, and NH₂-MIL-53(Al) were also grown on chitosan microcapsules successively to prepare the core-shell microspheres, which prove the universal applicability of this strategy. And beyond that, the introduction of chitosan microspheres endows the material with biodegradable properties and excellent recycling properties.

The Fabrication of Pd Single Atoms/Clusters on COF Layers as Co-catalysts for Photocatalytic H2 Evolution

The particle size of co-catalysts significantly affects the activity of semiconductors in photocatalysis. Herein, we report that the photocatalytic H₂ evolution (PHE) activity of a visible light responsive covalent organic framework (COF) layer supported on SiO₂ nanoparticles was greatly promoted from 47.7 to 85.5 μmol/h by decreasing the particle size of the Pd co-catalyst from 3.3 nm to single atoms/clusters. A PHE rate of 156 mmol g_COF^-1 h^-1 and apparent quantum efficiency up to 7.3% were achieved with the Pd SAs/Cs co-catalyst. The relationship between the activity of Pd in H₂ dissociation, proton reduction, and PHE rate suggests that the promotion effect of Pd SAs/Cs is mainly attributed to their enhancement in charge separation of COF layers rather than proton reduction. Furthermore, a photoactive film was fabricated and steady production of H₂ was achieved under visible light irradiation and static conditions. The optimization of the particle size of co-catalysts provides an efficient method for enhancing the photocatalytic activity of semiconductors.

High activity of step sites on Pd nanocatalysts in electrocatalytic dechlorination

The role of step sites on nanocatalysts in the electrocatalytic dechlorination reaction (ECDR) was studied using 3 Pd nanocatalysts with different densities of step sites, which decreased in the order of: tetrahexahedral Pd{310} nanocrystals (THH Pd{310} NCs) > commercial Pd nanoparticles (Pd black) > cubic Pd{100} NCs. The two well-defined Pd NCs served as model catalysts and were prepared through the electrochemical square-wave potential (SWP) method. The toxic herbicide alachlor was first employed in this study as an objective probe to determine the dechlorination performance, which was quantified by the alachlor removal (R_ala), the current efficiency (CE_ala), and the dechlorination selectivity (S_des). The experimental results demonstrated that the THH Pd{310} NCs with abundant step sites exhibited much higher electrocatalytic performance compared to the cubic Pd{100} NCs with terrace sites. The combination of cyclic voltammetry studies, electrochemical in situ FTIR analysis, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed that the adsorbed CO bond and generated on the step sites could lower the C-Cl bond splitting barrier, leading to a high ECDR efficiency. Other chlorinated organics with an activated carbon atom were also investigated, which revealed that the superiority of the step sites toward Cl-C bond breaking was particular to the compounds with CO bonds. This study provides a deep understanding of high actvitiy of step sites on Pd NCs in EHDC and a strategy to improve this important environmental electrocatalysis process.

Crystalline Covalent Organic Frameworks with Tailored Linkages for Photocatalytic H2 Evolution

Crystalline covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are porous polymeric semiconductors with network topologies, which are built from the integration of selected organic blocks with covalent bond linkages. They have shown great promise for artificial photosynthesis, owing to broad light harvesting, high crystallinity, and high carrier mobility. This Minireview introduces state-of-the-art COF photocatalysts based on different linkages and discusses the origin of photocatalytic activities for hydrogen evolution. Three typical COF photocatalysts, with linkages including imine (-C=N-), β-ketoenamine (O=C-C=C-NH-), and vinylene (-C=C-), are discussed with a particular focus on the advancements in synthetic methodologies and structural design, as well as photoelectronic properties that are relevant to photocatalytic performance. The Minireview is expected to elucidate their structure-property relationships and the way to design photoactive COFs with enhanced performances.

Controllable Synthesis of Hollow Microtubular Covalent Organic Frameworks as an Enzyme-Immobilized Platform for Enhancing Catalytic Activity

Despite great achievement that has been made in the synthesis of covalent organic frameworks (COFs), precise construction of COFs with well-defined nano/microstructures poses a rigorous challenge. Herein, we introduce a simple template-free strategy for controllable synthesis of hollow microtubular COFs. The obtained COFs show a spontaneous morphology transformation from a microfiber to a hollow microtubular structure when the concentrations of catalytic acid are regulated elaborately. Furthermore, the as-prepared COFs exhibit high crystallinity, well-defined hollow tubular morphology, and high surface areas (∼2600 m2/g). Taking the advantages of the unique morphological structure, the hollow microtubular COFs can serve as an ideal host material for enzymes. The resultant biocomposites show high catalytic performance and can be successfully applied to rapid and high-efficiency proteolysis of proteins. This work blazes a trail for controllable synthesis of the hollow microtubular COFs through a template-free process and expands the application of COFs as a promising platform for enzyme immobilization.

A novel affinity peptide-antibody sandwich electrochemical biosensor for PSA based on the signal amplification of MnO2-functionalized covalent organic framework

This work describes a novel affinity peptide-antibody sandwich electrochemical strategy for the ultrasensitive detection of prostate-specific antigen (PSA). Herein, polydopamine-coated boron-doped carbon nitride (Au@PDA@BCN) was synthesized and used as a sensing platform to anchor gold nanoparticles and immobilize primary antibody. Meanwhile, AuPt metallic nanoparticle and manganese dioxide (MnO₂)-functionalized covalent organic frameworks (AuPt@MnO₂@COF) was facilely synthesized to serve as a nanocatalyst and ordered nanopore for the enrichment and amplification of signal molecules (methylene blue, MB). PSA affinity peptide was bound to AuPt@MnO₂@COF to form Pep/MB/AuPt@MnO₂@COF nanocomposites (probe). The peptide-PSA-antibody sandwich biosensor was constructed, and the redox signal of MB was measured with the existence of PSA. The fabricated sensor exhibited a linear response (0.00005-10 ng mL^-1) with a low detection limit of 16.7 fg mL^-1 under the optimum condition. Additionally, the sensor showed an excellent selectivity, ideal repeatability, and good stability for PSA detection in real samples. Furthermore, the porous structure of COF can enrich more MB molecules and increase the sensitivity of the biosensor. This study provides an efficient and ultrasensitive strategy for PSA detection and broadens the use of organic/inorganic porous nanocomposite in biosensing.

Differences and Similarities of Photocatalysis and Electrocatalysis in Two-Dimensional Nanomaterials: Strategies, Traps, Applications and Challenges

Photocatalysis and electrocatalysis have been essential parts of electrochemical processes for over half a century. Recent progress in the controllable synthesis of 2D nanomaterials has exhibited enhanced catalytic performance compared to bulk materials. This has led to significant interest in the exploitation of 2D nanomaterials for catalysis. There have been a variety of excellent reviews on 2D nanomaterials for catalysis, but related issues of differences and similarities between photocatalysis and electrocatalysis in 2D nanomaterials are still vacant. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview on the differences and similarities of photocatalysis and electrocatalysis in the latest 2D nanomaterials. Strategies and traps for performance enhancement of 2D nanocatalysts are highlighted, which point out the differences and similarities of series issues for photocatalysis and electrocatalysis. In addition, 2D nanocatalysts and their catalytic applications are discussed. Finally, opportunities, challenges and development directions for 2D nanocatalysts are described. The intention of this review is to inspire and direct interest in this research realm for the creation of future 2D nanomaterials for photocatalysis and electrocatalysis.

Synergistic Antibacterial and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of a Drug-Loaded Self-Standing Porphyrin-COF Membrane for Efficient Skin Wound Healing

Chronic wound infections resulting from severe bacterial invasion have become a major medical threat worldwide. Herein, we report a large-area, homogeneous, and self-standing porphyrin-covalent organic framework (COF)-based membrane with encapsulated ibuprofen (IBU) via an in situ interfacial polymerization and impregnation approach. The obtained IBU@DhaTph-membrane exhibits highly effective antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects via synergistic light-induced singlet oxygen (¹ O₂ ) generation and controllable IBU release, which is well supported by in vitro experiments. In addition, the IBU@DhaTph-membrane-based biocompatible "band-aid" type dressing is fabricated, and its excellent anti-infection and tissue remodeling activities are fully evidenced by in vivo chronic wound-healing experiments. This study may inspire and promote the fabrication of many more new types of COF-based multifunctional biomaterials for various skin injuries in clinical medicine.

High-efficiency Pd nanoparticles loaded porous organic polymers membrane catalytic reactors

An innovative tactic to prepare porous organic polymer membranes was developed via interfacial azo-coupling polymerization. The membranes possess plentiful anchoring sites for loading Pd nanoparticles, and served as a membrane reactor, which exhibits high-performance catalytic reduction with a flux of 27.3 t m^-2 day^-1 and good long-term stability due to almost zero Pd leaching.

Orderly Porous Covalent Organic Frameworks-based Materials: Superior Adsorbents for Pollutants Removal from Aqueous Solutions

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are a new type of crystalline porous polymers known for chemical stability, excellent structural regularity, robust framework, and inherent porosity, making them promising materials for capturing various types of pollutants from aqueous solutions. This review thoroughly presents the recent progress and advances of COFs and COF-based materials as superior adsorbents for the efficient removal of toxic heavy metal ions, radionuclides, and organic pollutants. Information about the interaction mechanisms between various pollutants and COF-based materials are summarized from the macroscopic and microscopic standpoints, including batch experiments, theoretical calculations, and advanced spectroscopy analysis. The adsorption properties of various COF-based materials are assessed and compared with other widely used adsorbents. Several commonly used strategies to enhance COF-based materials' adsorption performance and the relationship between structural property and sorption ability are also discussed. Finally, a summary and perspective on the opportunities and challenges of COFs and COF-based materials are proposed to provide some inspiring information on designing and fabricating COFs and COF-based materials for environmental pollution management.

Self-supporting covalent organic framework membranes synthesized through two different processes: solvothermal annealing and solvent vapor annealing

Rigid, freestanding covalent organic framework (COF-1) membranes have been synthesized from 1,4-benzenediboronic acid (BDBA) precursors using two different approaches: room temperature solvent-vapour annealing (SVA) and solvothermal annealing (SA). Characterization of films using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction (XRD), and various microscopies shows that the films obtained through the two different routes vary in their retained BDBA proportion, crystal size and macroscale morphology. Gas adsorption measurements give specific surface areas of 579 ± 7 m² g^-1 and 739 ± 11 m² g^-1 respectively, suggesting that the average porosity of these films is competitive with bulk-synthesized COF-1 particles. The films have a stratified structure, with a dense, thin top layer and a thicker, sponge-like base layer. Using nanoindentation, we measured the Young's modulus at the top surface of the SVA and SA films to be 3.64 ± 1.20 GPa and 3.33 ± 0.12 GPa respectively, with the smaller uncertainty for the SA film attributed to a more uniform morphology. These measurements provide useful experimental data pertaining to COF-1 mechanical properties, furnishing information relevant to the use of these free-standing membranes in applications such as gas filtration or storage.

Magnetic COFs as catalyst for Fenton-like degradation of sulfamethazine

A novel magnetic covalent organic frameworks (COFs) (Fe₂O₃@COFs) composite was fabricated by restricting the growth of Fe₂O₃ in the nanoscale channel of COFs, which can be used as the Fenton-like catalyst for sulfamethazine (SMT) degradation in aqueous solution. The as-prepared catalyst had good crystallinity, porosity and nano-flower-shaped morphology, and the encapsulated Fe₂O₃ particles were well-distributed and restrained in the nano-channels of COFs. Furthermore, magnetic COFs could not only adsorb SMT, but also catalyze the Fenton-like degradation of SMT in the presence of H₂O₂ (about 100% of removal efficiency). Acidic condition (pH = 3) facilitated SMT degradation in Fe₂O₃@COFs/H₂O₂. system. In consecutive 5 cycles, the catalyst showed a good stability and reusability with a high removal efficiency (>96%), a good mineralization rate (about 35%)，and a very low Fe²⁺ leaching (below 0.1 mg L^-1). Electron spin resonance (ESR) and quenching tests proved that hydroxyl radicals were the main reactive species generated in the Fe₂O₃@COFs/H₂O₂ system for the degradation of SMT. In conclusion, Fe₂O₃@COFs is a promising Fenton-like catalyst for the degradation of SMT and other toxic organic pollutants in water and wastewater.

Highly Efficient Silver Catalyst Supported by a Spherical Covalent Organic Framework for the Continuous Reduction of 4-Nitrophenol

Developing new materials and novel technologies for the highly efficient treatment of toxic organic pollutants is highly desirable. Chemical reduction based on heterogeneous substrate/noble metal catalysts and the reducing agent NaBH₄ has become an effective method in recent years. Here, a spherical covalent organic framework (SCOF) was designed to provide basic sites for Ag ions, by which small Ag NPs were immobilized on the SCOF to form Ag NPs@SCOF microspheres. The prepared microspheres exhibited a high catalytic reduction ability toward 4-nitrophenol (4-NP). An optimized permeation flux of 2000 L m^-2 h^-1 (LMH) and a more than 99% 4-NP reduction efficiency were obtained with flow-through experiments, which are far better than the reported results (below 200 LMH). Moreover, the microspheres could maintain stable catalytic performance under a continuous flow-through process. Our work provides an efficient material and technology that can be applied to easily treat toxic organic pollutants.

Covalent organic frameworks: an ideal platform for designing ordered materials and advanced applications

Covalent organic frameworks offer a molecular platform for integrating organic units into periodically ordered yet extended 2D and 3D polymers to create topologically well-defined polygonal lattices and built-in discrete micropores and/or mesopores.

A Robust Mixed-Lanthanide PolyMOF Membrane for Ratiometric Temperature Sensing

Temperature sensors play a significant role in biology, chemistry, and engineering, especially those that can work accurately in a noninvasive manner. We adopted a photoinduced post-synthetic copolymerization strategy to realize a membranous ratiometric luminescent thermometer based on the emissions of two lanthanide ions. This novel mixed-lanthanide polyMOF membrane exhibits not only the integrity and temperature sensing behaviour of the Ln-MOF powder but also excellent mechanical properties, such as flexibility, elasticity, and processability. Moreover, the polyMOF membrane shows remarkable stability under harsh conditions, including high humidity, strong acid and alkali (pH 0-14), which allowed the mapping of temperature distributions in extreme circumstances. This work highlights a simple strategy for polyMOF membrane formation and pushes forward the further practical application of Ln-MOF-based luminescent thermometers in various fields and conditions.

Nanoscale covalent organic frameworks as theranostic platforms for oncotherapy: synthesis, functionalization, and applications

Cancer nanomedicine is one of the most promising domains that has emerged in the continuing search for cancer diagnosis and treatment. The rapid development of nanomaterials and nanotechnology provide a vast array of materials for use in cancer nanomedicine. Among the various nanomaterials, covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are becoming an attractive class of upstarts owing to their high crystallinity, structural regularity, inherent porosity, extensive functionality, design flexibility, and good biocompatibility. In this comprehensive review, recent developments and key achievements of COFs are provided, including their structural design, synthesis methods, nanocrystallization, and functionalization strategies. Subsequently, a systematic overview of the potential oncotherapy applications achieved till date in the fast-growing field of COFs is provided with the aim to inspire further contributions and developments to this nascent but promising field. Finally, development opportunities, critical challenges, and some personal perspectives for COF-based cancer therapeutics are presented.

Covalent organic frameworks bearing pillar[6]arene-reduced Au nanoparticles for the catalytic reduction of nitroaromatics

While tremendous advancements in 2D materials anchoring Au nanoparticles have been made, it is an urgent challenge to explore a green and facile approach for obtaining small-size Au nanoparticles. The rise of 2D covalent organic framework (COF) presents more-promising candidates for constructing excellent sites for loading metal nanoparticles. In this study, a novel 2D heterogeneous hybrid nanomaterial (P6-Au-COF) based on COF and pillar[6]arene (P6) reduced Au nanoparticles (P6-Au) is prepared by a simple and green procedure. The Au nanoparticles with an average small diameter of 2-3 nm are homogeneously dispersed on the surface of the COF. The P6-Au-COF hybrid material shows highly catalytic performance for the reduction of nitrophenol isomers when compared with commercial Pd/C catalyst and other reported materials. The P6-Au-COF hybrid material exhibits durable recyclablility and stability during the catalytic reaction. Considering the outstanding merits of the heterogeneous 2D catalyst of P6-Au-COF as well as the simple and green preparation, this research might not only present enormous opportunities for stabilized, high-performance and sustainable catalysts, but be applied in other frontier study of sustainable functionalized nanocomposites and advanced materials.

One-Pot Fabrication of Pd Nanoparticles@Covalent-Organic-Framework-Derived Hollow Polyamine Spheres as a Synergistic Catalyst for Tandem Catalysis

Facile fabrication of nanocatalysts consisting of metal nanoparticles (NPs) anchored on a functional support is highly desirable, yet remains challenging. Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) provide an emerging materials platform for structural control and functional design. Here, a facile one-pot in situ reduction approach is demonstrated for the encapsulation of small Pd NPs into the shell of COF-derived hollow polyamine spheres (Pd@H-PPA). In the one-pot synthetic process, the nucleation and growth of Pd NPs in the cavities of the porous shell take place simultaneously with the reduction of imine linkages to secondary amine groups. Pd@H-PPA shows a significantly enhanced catalytic activity and recyclability in the tandem dehydrogenation of ammonia borane and selective hydrogenation of nitroarenes through an adsorption-activation-reaction mechanism. The strong interactions of the secondary amine linkage with borane and nitroarene molecules afford a positive synergy to promote the catalytic reaction. Moreover, the hierarchical structure of Pd@H-PPA allows the accessibility of active Pd NPs to reactants.

Aqueous stable Pd nanoparticles/covalent organic framework nanocomposite: an efficient nanoenzyme for colorimetric detection and multicolor imaging of cancer cells

Accurate, sensitive detection of cancer cells from clinical fluids is helpful for screening and early diagnosis of tumors. Here, we develop a facile approach for in situ growth of palladium nanoparticles in an aqueous stable carboxymethyl cellulose-modified covalent organic framework hydrogel (named Pd NPs/CMC-COF-LZU1). The resulting nanocomposite has been proven to show superior catalytic performance for the transformation of N-butyl-4-NHAlloc-1,8-naphthalimide (NNPH) into N-butyl-4-amido-1,8-naphthalimide (NPH), indicated by significant changes in both color and fluorescence. Based on these features, the designed nanocomposite was used as a signal transducer to develop a colorimetric assay and multicolor imaging for accurate and sensitive detection of cancer cells. The transformation of NNPH into NPH enabled the detection system to perform multicolor imaging of HeLa cells. By using folic acid (FA) as a recognition element, a total of 100 cancer cells (HeLa) can be distinguished in 1 mL culture medium with 10% FBS. We envision that these COF-based composite materials (Pd NPs/CMC-COF-LZU1) have tremendous potential applications in biotechnology and biological sciences.