Covalent Organic Frameworks (COFs) for heterogeneous catalysis: Recent trends in design and synthesis with structure-activity relationship

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are emerging materials with high potential in catalysis. The thermal/chemical stabilities, adjustable porosities, and tunable functionalities with the flexibility of active sites’ installation are promising features of COFs for catalysis. In this article, a comprehensive explanation of the designed fabrication of COFs for heterogeneous catalysis, including chemical catalysis, photocatalysis, electrocatalysis, and biocatalysis, is carried out to establish the structure–activity relationship. By establishing the advantages of COF-based catalysts over conventional catalysts, we have discussed catalytic active sites in COFs, including the reactive skeleton/linkages, reactive pendant groups, and reactive guest species such as metals, single-atom catalysts (SACs) and molecular catalysts. Despite, the emerging benefits, still, some challenges also have been highlighted with subsequent future perspectives.