Porphyrin-based covalent organic frameworks from design, synthesis to biological applications.

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) constitute a class of highly functional porous materials composed of lightweight elements interconnected by covalent bonds, characterized by structural order, high crystallinity, and large specific surface area. The integration of naturally occurring porphyrin molecules, renowned for their inherent rigidity and conjugate planarity, as building blocks in COFs has garnered significant attention. This strategic incorporation addresses the limitations associated with free-standing porphyrins, resulting in the creation of well-organized porous crystal structures with molecular-level directional arrangements. The unique optical, electrical, and biochemical properties inherent to porphyrin molecules endow these COFs with diversified applications, particularly in the realm of biology. This review comprehensively explores the synthesis and modulation strategies employed in the development of porphyrin-based COFs and delves into their multifaceted applications in biological contexts. A chronological depiction of the evolution from design to application is presented, accompanied by an analysis of the existing challenges. Furthermore, this review offers directional guidance for the structural design of porphyrin-based COFs and underscores their promising prospects in the field of biology.

Perspective into ion storage of pristine metal-organic frameworks in capacitive deionization.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), featuring tunable conductivity, tailored pore/structure and high surface area, have emerged as promising electrode nanomaterials for ion storage in capacitive deionization (CDI) and garnered tremendous attention in recent years. Despite the many advantages, the perspective from which MOFs should be designed and prepared for use as CDI electrode materials still faces various challenges that hinder their practical application. This summary proposes design principles for the pore size, pore environment, structure and dimensions of MOFs to precisely tailor the surface area, selectivity, conductivity, and Faradaic activity of electrode materials based on the ion storage mechanism in the CDI process. The account provides a new perspective to deepen the understanding of the fundamental issues of MOFs electrode materials to further meet the practical applications of CDI.