Recent Developments in Covalent Organic Frameworks‐Based Photocatalysts for Hydrogen Production from Water Splitting Reactions

Abstract Solar power represents the pinnacle of clean and renewable energy offering the opportunity to harness it for the splitting of water molecules into molecular hydrogen. This hydrogen is regarded as environmentally friendly energy source and is seen as an appealing substitute for fossil fuels with an impressive energy density of 120 MJ kg −1 . Among the diverse methods for hydrogen production, photocatalytic water splitting has emerged as a highly promising approach due to its cost‐effectiveness and high efficiency. A wide range of organic and inorganic semiconductor‐based photocatalysts have been extensively explored for this application. Notably, covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have gained significant attention as highly effective photocatalysts for hydrogen evolution. Their exceptional performance can be attributed to features such as highly ordered structures, large surface area, π‐conjugated backbones, strong π‐π stacking and excellent thermal and chemical stability. Moreover, their visible‐light absorption capabilities, high charge separation efficiency and synthetic tunability make them structurally and functionally versatile. This review underscores pivotal strategies‐including the rational design of linkages and molecular building blocks, donor‐acceptor tuning, heteroatom integration, post‐synthetic modifications, and composite engineering‐to enhance the photocatalytic performance of COFs and advance their potential for large‐scale hydrogen production.