Recent Advances in Donor–Acceptor Covalent Organic Frameworks for Photocatalytic H2O2 Production
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Regulatory Mechanisms of D-A-Type COFs for Enhanced Photocatalytic H2O2 Production
- Promoting exciton dissociation. Upon photoexcitation, COFs generate Frenkel excitons, which often possess high exciton binding energies (Eb), hindering spontaneous dissociation into free charge carriers [21,22]. The energy-level offsets and orbital overlaps between donor and acceptor units in D-A structures generate directional intramolecular charge transfer (ICT), effectively reducing the exciton binding energy [9,18]. Studies have shown that COFs with D-A interactions can effectively lower Eb, thereby significantly enhancing exciton dissociation efficiency [23,24,25].
- Establishing a built-in electric field to drive charge separation. The electronic push–pull effect between D-A units amplifies the molecular dipole and charge polarization within the COF framework, inducing a built-in electric field [26]. This field acts as a driving force, guiding photogenerated electrons toward the acceptor units and holes toward the donor units, achieving spatial separation of electron–hole pairs and effectively suppressing charge recombination [14,27]. The strength of the built-in electric field can be further enhanced by tuning the electron push–pull capabilities of the donors/acceptors or the orientation of the linkage bonds [28,29].
- Constructing dual active sites for synergistic catalysis. In D-A COFs, the spatial separation of electrons and holes implies that ORR and WOR can proceed on acceptor and donor units, respectively [30,31,32]. These spatially separated redox centers mimic the Z-scheme charge transfer mode of natural photosynthesis, enabling the two half-reactions to proceed synergistically while avoiding competing back reactions, thereby boosting overall H2O2 production efficiency [33,34]. For instance, triazine acceptor units often serve as ORR active centers, while triphenylamine or thiophene donor units are responsible for WOR [23,35].
3. Design Strategies and Research Progress of D-A-Type COFs
3.1. D-A Architecture Design
3.1.1. Classic D-A-Type COFs
3.1.2. D-π-A-Type COFs


3.1.3. A-D-A, D-A-D, and Other Variant COFs
3.2. Linkage Engineering
3.2.1. Isomerization Regulation of Imine Linkages
3.2.2. Introduction of Irreversible Bonds
3.3. Molecular Engineering of Donor/Acceptor Units
3.3.1. Heteroatom Doping and Functional Group Modification
3.3.2. Isomer Regulation
3.4. Dimensionality and Topology Modulation
3.5. Heterojunctions and Composites
| COF | Donor | Acceptor | Pathway | H2O2 Production Rate (μmol g−1 h−1) | AQY (%) | SCC (%) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TPB-TPT-COF | Triphenylbenzene | Triazine | ORR, WOR | 6740 | 1.05 | 0.14 | [33] |
| TPB-TPT-COF | Triphenylbenzene | Triazine | ORR, WOR | 3290 | 0.51 | / | [26] |
| PyIm-BT-F | Pyridine | Benzothiazole | ORR | 5342 | 2.7 | / | [42] |
| Bpy-COF | Bipyridine | Bisoxazole | ORR | 1330 | 1.32 | 0.036 | [43] |
| iTPPy-COF | Tri/quarterpyridine | N+-containing pyridinium | ORR, WOR | 7955 | 8.3 | 0.65 | [44] |
| TAPT–OCH3 COF | 2,5-Dimethoxy-1,4-benzenedicarboxaldehyde | 4,4,4′-(1,3,5-Triazine-2,4,6-triyl)trianiline | ORR, WOR | 716 | 2.21 | 0.23 | [22] |
| OPV-TAPT-COF | Oligo(phenylenevinylene) | 4,4′,4″-(1,3,5-Triazine-2,4,6-triyl)trianiline | ORR | 3094 | 1.1 | / | [14] |
| EBBT-COF | Benzo [1,2-b:3,4-b′:5,6-b″]trithiophene-2,5,8-tricarboxaldehyde | 4,4′,4″-(1,3,5-Benzenetriyltri-2,1-ethynediyl)tris-benzenamine | ORR, WOR | 5686 | 15.14 | 1.17 | [45] |
| COF-DTZ-TDA | 2,4,6-Tris(4-aminophenyl)-1,3,5-triazine | Thiazolo [5,4-d]thiazole | ORR | 29,600 (acetonitrile) | / | / | [21] |
| BBT-COF | Benzotrithiophene | Triazine | ORR | 17,320 | 9.60 | 0.23 | [46] |
| TBT-COF | Triphenylamine | Triazine | ORR, WOR | 7427 | 11.82 | 0.42 | [35] |
| TT-DTDA-COF | Benzene | Thieno [3,2-b] thiophene + triazine | ORR | 1302 | 3.02 | 0.17 | [47] |
| N3-COF | Benzene | β-ketoenamine + N-heterocycle | ORR, WOR | 4881 | 1.5 | 0.413 | [48] |
| BTTP-2:8 | Benzo [1,2-b:3,4-b:5,6-b]trithiophene-2,5,8-tricarboxaldehyde and 2,4,6-tris(4-formylphenyl)-1,3,5-triazine | 4,4,4-(1,3,5-Benzenetriyltri-2,1-ethynediyl)tris-benzenamine | ORR, WOR | 15,498 | 28.45 | 2.74 | [49] |
| COF-2CN-2 | [2,2′-Bipyridine]-5,5′- diamine | 2,4,6-Triformylphloroglucinol + 4,4′-diamino-[1,1′-biphenyl]-3,3′-dicarbonitrile | ORR, WOR | 6864.68 | 14.13 | 1.27 | [50] |
| FS-OHOMe-COF | Trimethoxy benzene | Dibenzothiophene sulfone | ORR | 1.0 mM h−1 | 9.6 | 0.58 | [51] |
| Tp COFs | 1,3,5-Benzene-tricarboxaldehyde | 2,2′-Bipyridine | ORR, WOR | 8350 | 8.1. | 0.038 | [55] |
| TTT-COF | Triazine | Thiazole | ORR, WOR | 29,900 (benzyl alcohol) | 12 | 0.32 | [17] |
| ThTz-COF | Thiophene | Triazine | ORR, WOR | 2506 | 0.16 | / | [57] |
| USTB-10-S | 4,4′-Biphenyldiamine | Naphtho [2,3-c][1,2,5]thiadiazole-4,9-diyl)diisophthalaldehyde | ORR | 5041 | 4.98 | 0.06 | [58] |
| BBT-ACN COF-1 | Benzotristhiophene | Benzo [1,2-d-4,5-d’]bisthiazole | ORR | 2500 | 3.19 | / | [23] |
| IvCOF- I | Triazine | N-ethyl-2,4,6-trimethylpyridinium iodide | ORR, WOR | 6900 | 15.7 | 1.08 | [59] |
| 2,5-DhaTph | 2,5-Dihydroxy-1,4-benzenedicarboxaldehyde | 5,10,15,20-Tetrakis(4-aminophenyl) porphyrin | ORR | 2103.1 | 0.15 | / | [61] |
| COF-TPDB-NO2 | Biphenyl | Quinone | ORR | 1400 | 4.36 | 0.30 | [29] |
| TT-T-COF | Porphyrin | TPDA-TEMPO () | ORR | 10,066 | 19.25 | / | [62] |
| FMP-COF | 2,5-Dimethoxyterephthalohydrazide | 5′-(4-Formyl-3-methoxyphenyl)-3,3″-dimethoxy-[1,1′:3′,1″-terphenyl]-4,4″-dicarbaldehyde | ORR, WOR | 5384 | 4.62 | / | [63] |
| sp2-COF-CN | Biphenyl | Cyano-substituted pyridine ring | ORR, WOR | 17,768.4 | 2.5 | 0.21 | [64] |
| DT2TA-TAPB | 1,3,5-Tris(4-aminophenyl)benzene | 2,5-Di(thiophen-2-yl) terephthalaldehyde | ORR, WOR | 8587 | 3.3 | / | [25] |
| COF-300-D-F | Tris(4-aminophenyl)amine | Fluoride-functionalized terephthalaldehyde | ORR | 19,090 | 11.95 | / | [69] |
| COF-2 (bcu) | Thiophene | 2,4,5,6-Tetra(carbazol-9-yl)isophthalonitrile | ORR | 10,680 (benzyl alcohol) | / | / | [70] |
| TTF@Por-COF-cya | Tetrathiafulvalene | Por-COF-cya | ORR | 6994 | 14.98 | / | [71] |
| S-COF (zyg-type PTZ-COF) | Phenothiazine | Dimethyl-functionalized tetra-amine | ORR, WOR | 3324 | / | / | [36] |
| pc-Ph-COF | Thiophene | Triazine | ORR, WOR | 4750 | 20.06 | 0.54 | [72] |
| D-A COF/CdS | Biphenyl | Triazine | / | 765.6 | / | / | [73] |
| D@A-COF | D-COF | A-COF | ORR, WOR | 5462 | 1.54 | 0.21 | [74] |
4. Summary and Outlook
- Insufficient long-term stability. Most high-performance D-A COFs are constructed based on imine linkages, which exhibit limited long-term stability under aqueous photocatalytic conditions. Developing fully conjugated D-A COFs based on irreversible linkages (e.g., sp2-C, thiazole, quinoline) is a fundamental solution, but synthetic methodologies still require breakthroughs.
- Insufficient mechanistic understanding. Although the role of D-A structures in promoting charge separation is widely recognized, the detailed mechanistic picture, from the initial photoexcitation and subsequent charge carrier dynamics to the final surface catalytic reactions, remains largely elusive at the molecular level. Key unresolved questions include the full kinetic profile of photogenerated charges, the precise identification of active sites, and the nature of their interactions with reaction intermediates. Addressing these challenges requires the integration of advanced characterization techniques, including femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy (fs-TAS), time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL), and other in situ methods, as well as theoretical calculations [77].
- Lag in scalable synthesis and application. Current synthesis of D-A COFs is largely limited to laboratory-scale solvothermal methods, with low yields and significant batch-to-batch variations. Developing scalable green synthetic routes (e.g., mechanochemistry, microwave-assisted, flow chemistry) and photocatalytic devices suitable for practical conditions (e.g., membrane reactors, fluidized bed reactors) is crucial for advancing D-A COFs toward applications [78].
- Solar energy utilization efficiency needs improvement. Most D-A COFs have absorption ranges concentrated in the visible region, with insufficient utilization of near-infrared light. Strategies such as extending π-conjugation to reduce bandgaps and introducing narrow-bandgap third components to construct ternary systems hold promise for further improving full-spectrum utilization efficiency.
- Insufficient synergy between ORR and WOR pathways. Current research has predominantly focused on optimizing the ORR pathway for H2O2 production, while the contribution of the WOR has been largely overlooked. In many reported D-A COF systems, the H2O2 yield is primarily limited by the sluggish kinetics of the WOR half-reaction, which fails to supply sufficient protons and electrons to sustain the overall photocatalytic cycle. The spatial separation of redox centers in D-A COFs offers a unique opportunity to address this limitation [33,35]. However, most current designs prioritize acceptor engineering for ORR enhancement, with insufficient attention paid to donor unit optimization for WOR activity. This imbalance results in suboptimal overall H2O2 production efficiency, as the overall reaction rate is dictated by the slower of the two half-reactions.
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Liang, J.; Bai, Y.; Yan, Z.; Wu, S.; Li, W.; Liu, Y.; Xu, N.; Chen, M. Recent Advances in Donor–Acceptor Covalent Organic Frameworks for Photocatalytic H2O2 Production. Catalysts 2026, 16, 832. https://doi.org/10.3390/catal16090832
Liang J, Bai Y, Yan Z, Wu S, Li W, Liu Y, Xu N, Chen M. Recent Advances in Donor–Acceptor Covalent Organic Frameworks for Photocatalytic H2O2 Production. Catalysts. 2026; 16(9):832. https://doi.org/10.3390/catal16090832
Chicago/Turabian StyleLiang, Jing, Yiqiang Bai, Zhengyin Yan, Shangrong Wu, Wenjuan Li, Yubing Liu, Naizhang Xu, and Mengyin Chen. 2026. "Recent Advances in Donor–Acceptor Covalent Organic Frameworks for Photocatalytic H2O2 Production" Catalysts 16, no. 9: 832. https://doi.org/10.3390/catal16090832
APA StyleLiang, J., Bai, Y., Yan, Z., Wu, S., Li, W., Liu, Y., Xu, N., & Chen, M. (2026). Recent Advances in Donor–Acceptor Covalent Organic Frameworks for Photocatalytic H2O2 Production. Catalysts, 16(9), 832. https://doi.org/10.3390/catal16090832

