Chinese Researchers Develop COF Material to Improve Solar Hydrogen Production
Researchers from the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, working with scientists from the Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, developed coumarin-linked covalent organic framework designed to improve the separation and lifetime of photogenerated charges.
September 15, 2026. By Abha Rustagi
Researchers from the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering (NIMTE) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, working with scientists from the Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, developed a coumarin-linked covalent organic framework (COF) designed to improve the separation and lifetime of photogenerated charges.
Photocatalytic water splitting uses light to split water into hydrogen and oxygen and is being explored as a route to producing low-carbon hydrogen. A key challenge is the rapid recombination of electrons and holes generated when photocatalysts absorb light, which reduces hydrogen production efficiency.
The researchers addressed the problem by introducing a rigid, planar coumarin linkage into a fully conjugated COF using a one-pot polycondensation process.
According to the study, the coumarin linkage was more structurally rigid than conventional imine and vinyl linkages. This helped maintain π-electron delocalisation and reduced structural fluctuations that can contribute to energy dissipation.
The resulting COF showed substantially improved charge separation, with its charge-separated state lasting about 1,000 times longer than that of an imine-linked counterpart, the researchers said.
When combined with platinum nanoparticles as a cocatalyst, photogenerated electrons moved from the COF to the platinum particles in about 407 picoseconds, supporting proton reduction and hydrogen evolution.
The material achieved a hydrogen evolution rate of 531 mmol per gram per hour under 440-nanometre irradiation, with an apparent quantum yield of 37.95 percent at 405 nm, according to the study.
Under visible light above 420 nm, the material recorded a hydrogen evolution rate of 166 mmol per gram per hour, the researchers said.
The findings highlight the potential of controlling the chemical linkages within COFs to improve charge dynamics and photocatalytic performance.
please contact: contact@energetica-india.net.
Dhananjay Kumar
Director - Regulatory and Corporate Affairs
Renewable Procurement Must Become More Flexible, Scalable, Says Dhananjay Kumar, ENGIE
Pritimukta Sarangi
Group Director of Sustainability and Technology
Renewables, Storage and Granular Energy Matching Key to Sustainable AI Growth: PDG
Pratik Kamdar
Co-founder & CEO
Neuron Energy’s Pratik Kamdar Says Scale, R&D and Technology Will Drive Next Phase of Growth
Naveen Gupta
Founder and CEO
Naveen Gupta, Trev Mobility, Says Premium EV Mobility Must Compete on Reliability and Service
Ranjan Dhar
Director & Vice President, Sales & Marketing
Advanced Coated Steel Can Improve Solar Asset Life, Reduce Maintenance, Says Ranjan Dhar