Research Projects

Solar-driven water-splitting for hydrogen generation is considered to be of fundamental importance in the push towards clean energy, but inefficiencies in current materials necessitate the development of improved photocatalysts. This project aims to synthesise ordered organic network materials – such as microporous and hierarchically structured covalent organic frameworks (COFs) – with special suitability for photocatalytic water splitting. The proposed research will advance the field of photocatalytic water splitting by using crystalline olefin-linked covalent organic frameworks bearing photoactive moieties and cocatalysts, as efficient photocatalysts. In expected outcomes and benefits, these advanced semiconducting materials will enhance visible light absorption and overcome substrate diffusion issues that currently limit water splitting performance, representing a key step towards the commercial application of COFs in the water splitting process.