Development of heteroatom containing covalent organic frameworks for energy and environmental applications

Abstract

Environmental sustainability is a critical global priority, requiring advancements in renewable newlineenergy technologies and efficient waste management to mitigate environmental and health newlineissues. Fuel cells, particularly hydrogen-based cells, offer clean energy with high efficiency newlinebut the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) at the cathode is hindered by slow kinetics, often newlinerequiring costly platinum-based electrocatalysts. Research is focusing on alternative materials newlineto accelerate these reactions. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) has emerged as a promising fuel due newlineto its efficient production via photocatalysis. Further, energy storage devices, including newlinesupercapacitors, complement batteries by offering safer, longer-lasting, high-power newlinealternatives. Furthermore, nuclear energy s potential is marred by safety and radioactive waste newlineconcerns, particularly the capture of iodine isotopes like iodine-131 and iodine-129. newlineAdditionally, dyes known for their high solubility in water and resistance to sunlight newlinedegradation pose severe risks to aquatic ecosystems and human health. newlineCovalent Organic Frameworks (COFs) with their tunable properties, have shown promise in newlineaddressing the challenges related to finding efficient electrode material for energy newlineproduction/storage and potent adsorbents for environmental remediation. These materials newlineexcel in applications such as oxygen reduction, supercapacitance, iodine adsorption, and dye newlineremoval presenting a multifaceted solution for sustainability challenges. newlineKeywords: Covalent Organic Frameworks; Supercapacitance; Oxygen Reduction Reactions, newlineIodine Uptake; Dye Adsorption. newlineVIII newlineCHAPTER 1 newlineIntroduction newlineThis chapter discusses the challenges in energy and environmental issues and explores newlinesolutions using COFs as efficient materials. Specific energy-related issues include the slow newlinekinetics of oxygen reduction in fuel cells and metal-air batteries, as well as the need for efficient newlineelectrode materials for the development of efficient energy storage devices such as newlinesupercapacitors. Specific