Gradient‐Polarized COFs for Paired H <sub>2</sub> O <sub>2</sub> /Imine Photosynthesis

ABSTRACT Photocatalytic hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) synthesis coupled with organic oxidation offers an efficient approach for solar‐to‐chemical conversion but is limited by inefficient charge separation and mismatched redox kinetics. We present a gradient‐polarized covalent organic framework (COF) platform, achieved by strengthening benzothiadiazole‐based acceptor units along a conjugated donor backbone. This gradient polarization creates a directional charge‐migration field, enhancing exciton dissociation and synchronizing electron–proton utilization in paired redox reactions. Optimized BTD‐BTT‐COF exhibits a high H 2 O 2 production rate of 25.67 mmolg ‒1 h ‒1 (AQY = 18.4%), achieving nearly quantitative benzylamine‐to‐imine conversion (&gt;99% yield, &gt;99.9% selectivity), and excellent stability. Spectroscopic analysis, isotopic labeling, and DFT calculations show that gradient polarization suppresses charge recombination and promotes electron accumulation at thiadiazole‐rich regions, enhancing oxygen activation, stabilizing superoxide and *OOH intermediates, and lowering the kinetic barrier of the ORR pathway. Coupled benzylamine (BnAm) oxidation further extracts holes and supplies protons for proton‐coupled electron transfer, amplifying catalytic turnover. This work establishes gradient polarization as a general design principle for COF photocatalysts, enabling efficient charge and reaction kinetics regulation in paired photosynthetic systems.

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Publication Details

Journal
Advanced Functional Materials
Published
2026-02-17
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202532122
Primary Topic
Covalent Organic Framework Applications
Type
article
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article

Gradient‐Polarized COFs for Paired H 2 O 2 /Imine Photosynthesis

Rongchen Shen, Mingyang Xu, Can Huang, Huiling Ding et al.
Advanced Functional Materials
Covalent Organic Framework Applications
article

Gradient‐Polarized COFs for Paired H 2 O 2 /Imine Photosynthesis

Rongchen Shen, Mingyang Xu, Can Huang, Huiling Ding, Yuhao Yan, Xuanhua Li, Bin Qi, Xin Li, Song Wang
article en

Abstract

ABSTRACT Photocatalytic hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) synthesis coupled with organic oxidation offers an efficient approach for solar‐to‐chemical conversion but is limited by inefficient charge separation and mismatched redox kinetics. We present a gradient‐polarized covalent organic framework (COF) platform, achieved by strengthening benzothiadiazole‐based acceptor units along a conjugated donor backbone. This gradient polarization creates a directional charge‐migration field, enhancing exciton dissociation and synchronizing electron–proton utilization in paired redox reactions. Optimized BTD‐BTT‐COF exhibits a high H 2 O 2 production rate of 25.67 mmolg ‒1 h ‒1 (AQY = 18.4%), achieving nearly quantitative benzylamine‐to‐imine conversion (&gt;99% yield, &gt;99.9% selectivity), and excellent stability. Spectroscopic analysis, isotopic labeling, and DFT calculations show that gradient polarization suppresses charge recombination and promotes electron accumulation at thiadiazole‐rich regions, enhancing oxygen activation, stabilizing superoxide and *OOH intermediates, and lowering the kinetic barrier of the ORR pathway. Coupled benzylamine (BnAm) oxidation further extracts holes and supplies protons for proton‐coupled electron transfer, amplifying catalytic turnover. This work establishes gradient polarization as a general design principle for COF photocatalysts, enabling efficient charge and reaction kinetics regulation in paired photosynthetic systems.

Advanced Functional Materials
South China Agricultural University (CN), Northwestern Polytechnical University (CN), Hubei University of Arts and Science (CN)
Openalex Percentile: Top 54%
Covalent Organic Framework Applications
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Gradient‐Polarized COFs for Paired H <sub>2</sub> O <sub>2</sub> /Imine Photosynthesis — Rongchen Shen, Mingyang Xu, et al. · Advanced Functional Materials (2026) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS