Breakthrough in Photocatalytic CO Conversion Using Triazine-Based Covalent Organic Frameworks

A team of researchers from the City University of Hong Kong has made significant advancements in photocatalytic CO conversion using triazine-based covalent organic frameworks (Tr-COFs). According to a recent study, the newly developed photocatalysts, known as LaFeO/COFs (LFO/COF), exhibit exceptional visible light responsive performance for CO reduction, outperforming other materials in the field. The LFO/COF Z-scheme heterojunction demonstrates a high CO generation rate of 276.2 mmol g h and a CO selectivity of 94.4%. This breakthrough has the potential to transform the way we convert CO into renewable fuels.

Key Takeaways:

• The research team from the City University of Hong Kong developed a novel photocatalyst, LaFeO/COFs (LFO/COF), consisting of triazine-based covalent organic frameworks (Tr-COFs) anchored on lanthanum ferrate (LaFeO), forming a Z-scheme heterojunction.
• The LFO/COF photocatalysts showed excellent visible light responsive performance for CO reduction, achieving a high CO generation rate of 276.2 mmol g h and a CO selectivity of 94.4%.
• The significant enhancement in photocatalytic CO conversion can be attributed to the built-in electric field of the Z-scheme heterojunction, which promotes efficient charge separation.
• The porous structure of LFO/COF facilitated adsorption of CO and desorption of CO, contributing to the improved photocatalytic performance.
• The research highlights the importance of the interfacial electric field microenvironment in enhancing charge separation in the LFO/COF Z-scheme heterojunction.

Statistics:

• The LFO/COF photocatalysts achieved a CO generation rate of 276.2 mmol g h.
• The CO selectivity of LFO/COF was 94.4%.
• The reaction path of CO conversion involves the formation of CO - *CO - *COOH- *CO - CO.
• The research was conducted by a team from the City University of Hong Kong, including Qinglan Tang, Keda Chen, Lei Ran, Yifan Xu, Yongfa Zhu, Yizhen Zhang, and Michael K. H. Leung.

Sources:

• Building-in Interface electric field microenvironment in covalent organic framework modified heterojunction guiding Electron transfer for effective photocatalytic CO2 reduction. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 2025; 700: 138326.
• NewsRx. City University of Hong Kong Reports Findings in Photocatalytics (Built-in Interface electric field microenvironment in covalent organic framework modified heterojunction guiding Electron transfer for effective photocatalytic CO2 reduction). Nanotechnology Weekly. July 21, 2025; p 101.