Chinese Journal of Catalysis ›› 2026, Vol. 81: 185-194.DOI: 10.1016/S1872-2067(25)64864-9

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Bipyridine-integrated bisoxazole-based donor-acceptor covalent organic framework for enhanced photocatalytic H2O2 synthesis

Jiaping Lua,b,1, Chao Lina,b,1, Chao Lic,1, Hongjie Shia,b, Nengyi Liua,b, Wandong Xinga,b(), Sibo Wanga,b(), Guigang Zhanga,b, Teng-Teng Chenc(), Xiong Chena,b()   

  1. a State Key Laboratory of Chemistry for NBC Hazards Protection, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350116, Fujian, China
    b State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, Key Laboratory of Advanced Carbon-Based Functional Materials, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350116, Fujian, China
    c Department of Chemistry, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Kowloon 999077, Hong Kong (SAR), China
  • Received:2025-07-08 Accepted:2025-09-15 Online:2026-02-18 Published:2025-12-26
  • Contact: *E-mail: xwd@fzu.edu.cn (W. Xing),sibowang@fzu.edu.cn (S. Wang),tengtengchen@ust.hk (T. Chen),chenxiong987@fzu.edu.cn (X. Chen).
  • About author:1 Contributed equally to this work.
  • Supported by:
    National Key R&D Program of China(2021YFA1502100);Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province(2024J01238);National Natural Science Foundation of China(22572031);National Natural Science Foundation of China(52201006);National Natural Science Foundation of China(22172029);111 Project(D16008);start-up fund from HKUST(R9874);Early Career Scheme(26311224);General Research Fund from the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong(16312125);Young Elite Scientists Sponsorship Program by the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST)(2023QNRC001);open research fund of Key Laboratory of Precision and Intelligent Chemistry

Abstract:

The deliberate integration and precise arrangement of electron donor (D) and acceptor (A) moieties within the crystalline lattices of covalent organic frameworks (COFs) represent a sophisticated strategy to optimize charge separation and electron transfer processes, thereby enhancing photocatalytic efficiency. Herein, we report the rational design and synthesis of two novel bisoxazole-based D-A type COFs, designated as Bpy-COF and Bph-COF. These frameworks incorporate identical acceptor units but are distinguished by their unique donor motifs, enabling a comparative evaluation of their structural and functional properties. The results reveal that Bpy-COF, which incorporates bipyridyl (Bpy) donor moieties, exhibits superior photocatalytic H2O2 production performance compared to Bph-COF, potentially related to its broader light response range and increased availability of reactive sites. Furthermore, the coplanar and conjugated nature of the Bpy groups facilitates efficient charge separation and migration, thereby accelerating the two-electron oxygen reduction reaction critical to H2O2 synthesis. This study affirms the effectiveness of manipulating the structural components of COF photocatalysts, propelling new insights for the design and synthesis of high-performance catalysts.

Key words: Covalent organic frameworks, Donor-acceptor, Photocatalysis, H2O2 production, Oxygen reduction reaction