Diacetylene Functionalized Covalent Organic Framework (COF) for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Generation

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are crystalline, highly porous, two- or three-dimensional polymers with tunable topology and functionalities. Because of their higher chemical stabilities in comparison to their boron-linked counterparts, imine or β-ketoenamine linked COFs have been utilized for a broad range of applications, including gas storage, heterogeneous catalysis, energy storage devices, or proton-conductive membranes. Herein, we report the synthesis of highly porous and chemically stable acetylene (−C≡C−) and diacetylene (−C≡C–C≡C−) functionalized β-ketoenamine COFs, which have been applied as photocatalyst for hydrogen generation from water. It is shown that the diacetylene moieties have a profound effect as the diacetylene-based COF largely outperforms the acetylene-based COF in terms of photocatalytic activity. As a combined effect of high porosity, easily accessible diacetylene (−C≡C–C≡C−) functionalities and considerable chemical stability, an efficient and recyclable heterogeneous photocatalytic hydrogen generation is achieved.