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.