Design and construction strategies to improve covalent organic frameworks photocatalyst's performance for degradation of organic pollutants

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are a class of crystalline porous organic polymers. In recent years, COFs have received extensive attention in the field of photocatalytic degradation due to their large specific surface area, good thermal and solvent stability, and diverse structures. This review studies the progress of COF in the field of photocatalytic degradation, and summarizes the strategies to improve the photocatalytic activity of covalent organic frameworks, including the designs of ligands and structures. In particular, the design and construction of the COF composites (COF/MOF, COF/g-C3N4, COF/metal semiconductor) are discussed. The photocatalytic mechanism is described in detail, and the prospect of COFs in photocatalytic degradation is prospected. [Display omitted] •The recent progress of functional COF photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants is reviewed.•The strategies for improving the photocatalytic activity of covalent organic framework are summarized.•The structural characteristics of several typical COF ligands are studied.•The synthesis of photocatalyst and its photocatalytic mechanism are discussed.•Challenges and future prospects in the COF field are proposed.