Phys.org August 5, 2024
Nanosizing confers unique functions in materials such as graphene and quantum dots. An international team of researchers (UK, China) described two nanoscale-covalent organic frameworks (nano-COFs) that exhibited exceptionally high activity for photocatalytic hydrogen production that resulted from their size and morphology. Compared to bulk analogues, the downsizing of COFs crystals using surfactants provided greatly improved water dispersibility and light-harvesting properties. The nano-COFs showed high hydrogen evolution rate. They observed a reverse concentration-dependent photocatalytic phenomenon where a higher photocatalytic activity was found at a lower catalyst concentration, and the materials showed a molecule-like excitonic nature, a function of their nanoscale dimensions. According to the researchers their work charts a new path to highly efficient organic photocatalysts for solar fuel production… read more. Open Access TECHNICAL ARTICLE
Synthesis of nano-COFs and their morphologies. Credit: Nature Communications volume 15, Article number: 6482 (2024)Â