Applications of Porous Organic Frameworks in Environmental Remediation

Dear Colleagues,

Environmental pollution, stemming from industrial discharge, agricultural runoff, and airborne contaminants, poses a persistent threat to ecosystems and public health. The development of advanced materials for the efficient remediation of these pollutants is, therefore, of paramount importance. Among them, Porous Organic Frameworks (POFs), including Covalent Organic Frameworks (COFs), Porous Aromatic Frameworks (PAFs), Hydrogen-bonded Organic Frameworks (HOFs), and their related structures, have emerged as a premier class of designer porous materials. Their exceptional characteristics—such as ultrahigh surface areas, precisely tunable pore architectures, and facile functionalization—endow them with unparalleled potential for environmental applications.

This Special Issue aims to showcase the latest breakthroughs in the rational design, innovative synthesis, and multifaceted application of POFs in addressing environmental challenges. We seek to compile a collection of research articles and reviews that explore the capabilities of POFs in the capture, degradation, and detection of a wide spectrum of toxic substances, including heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants, pharmaceuticals, and greenhouse gases. By highlighting the unique advantages of POFs over traditional porous materials, this issue will contribute to the advancement of next-generation environmental remediation technologies.

Topics of Interest

We invite the submission of high-quality original research and comprehensive review articles that align with the theme of this Special Issue. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Advanced Design and Synthesis of POFs:

• Novel strategies for constructing COFs, PAFs, HOFs, and other POFs with enhanced stability and functionality.
• Pre- and post-synthetic functionalization for targeted pollutant interaction.
• Development of sustainable, green, and scalable synthesis routes.

2. Adsorptive Removal and Separation:

• Fundamental investigation of adsorption mechanisms (physisorption, chemisorption, and coordination) for pollutants like heavy metals (e.g., Pb(II), Hg(II), As(V)), dyes, pesticides, industrial toxic gases, and VOCs.
• Studies on adsorption capacity, kinetics, selectivity, and regenerability under realistic conditions.
• Application of POFs in membrane separation and chromatographic techniques for environmental purification.

3. Catalytic Degradation and Transformation:

• POFs as catalysts or catalyst supports for the photocatalytic or Fenton-like degradation of organic pollutants.
• Catalytic conversion of CO₂ and other greenhouse gases into value-added products.

4. Sensing and Monitoring Platforms:

• Development of POF-based sensors (electrochemical, fluorescent, and colorimetric) for the detection of environmental contaminants.
• Designs focusing on high sensitivity, low detection limits, and anti-interference capability.
• Fabrication of field-deployable, wearable, or point-of-use sensing devices incorporating POFs.

Prof. Dr. Peng Li
Dr. Xingjie Wang
Dr. Kaikai Ma
Guest Editors

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