3D N-heterocyclic covalent organic frameworks for urea photosynthesis from NH3 and CO2

Abstract Artificial photosynthesis of urea from NH3 and CO2 seems to remain still essentially unexplored. Herein, three isomorphic three-dimensional covalent organic frameworks with twofold interpenetrated ffc topology are functionalized by benzene, pyrazine, and tetrazine active moieties, respectiv...

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Main Authors: Ning Li, Jiale Zhang, Xiangdong Xie, Kang Wang, Dongdong Qi, Jiang Liu, Ya-Qian Lan, Jianzhuang Jiang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-01-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-56307-w
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author Ning Li
Jiale Zhang
Xiangdong Xie
Kang Wang
Dongdong Qi
Jiang Liu
Ya-Qian Lan
Jianzhuang Jiang
author_facet Ning Li
Jiale Zhang
Xiangdong Xie
Kang Wang
Dongdong Qi
Jiang Liu
Ya-Qian Lan
Jianzhuang Jiang
author_sort Ning Li
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Artificial photosynthesis of urea from NH3 and CO2 seems to remain still essentially unexplored. Herein, three isomorphic three-dimensional covalent organic frameworks with twofold interpenetrated ffc topology are functionalized by benzene, pyrazine, and tetrazine active moieties, respectively. A series of experiment results disclose the gradually enhanced conductivity, light-harvesting capacity, photogenerated carrier separation efficiency, and co-adsorption capacity towards NH3 and CO2 in the order of benzene-, pyrazine-, and tetrazine-containing framework. This in turn endows tetrazine-containing framework with superior photocatalytic activity towards urea production from NH3 and CO2 with the yield of 523 μmol g−1 h−1, 40 and 4 times higher than that for benzene- and pyrazine-containing framework, respectively, indicating the heterocyclic N microenvironment-dependent catalytic performance for these three photocatalysts. This is further confirmed by in-situ spectroscopic characterization and density functional theory calculations. This work lays a way towards sustainable photosynthesis of urea.
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id doaj-art-6eeae2d683a040518b0c0a3e795f6493
institution Kabale University
issn 2041-1723
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Nature Communications
spelling doaj-art-6eeae2d683a040518b0c0a3e795f64932025-02-02T12:32:53ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-01-0116111010.1038/s41467-025-56307-w3D N-heterocyclic covalent organic frameworks for urea photosynthesis from NH3 and CO2Ning Li0Jiale Zhang1Xiangdong Xie2Kang Wang3Dongdong Qi4Jiang Liu5Ya-Qian Lan6Jianzhuang Jiang7Beijing Key Laboratory for Science and Application of Functional Molecular and Crystalline Materials, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, School of Chemistry and Biological Engineering, University of Science and Technology BeijingBeijing Key Laboratory for Science and Application of Functional Molecular and Crystalline Materials, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, School of Chemistry and Biological Engineering, University of Science and Technology BeijingGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Carbon Dioxide Resource Utilization, School of Chemistry, South China Normal UniversityBeijing Key Laboratory for Science and Application of Functional Molecular and Crystalline Materials, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, School of Chemistry and Biological Engineering, University of Science and Technology BeijingBeijing Key Laboratory for Science and Application of Functional Molecular and Crystalline Materials, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, School of Chemistry and Biological Engineering, University of Science and Technology BeijingGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Carbon Dioxide Resource Utilization, School of Chemistry, South China Normal UniversityGuangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Carbon Dioxide Resource Utilization, School of Chemistry, South China Normal UniversityBeijing Key Laboratory for Science and Application of Functional Molecular and Crystalline Materials, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, School of Chemistry and Biological Engineering, University of Science and Technology BeijingAbstract Artificial photosynthesis of urea from NH3 and CO2 seems to remain still essentially unexplored. Herein, three isomorphic three-dimensional covalent organic frameworks with twofold interpenetrated ffc topology are functionalized by benzene, pyrazine, and tetrazine active moieties, respectively. A series of experiment results disclose the gradually enhanced conductivity, light-harvesting capacity, photogenerated carrier separation efficiency, and co-adsorption capacity towards NH3 and CO2 in the order of benzene-, pyrazine-, and tetrazine-containing framework. This in turn endows tetrazine-containing framework with superior photocatalytic activity towards urea production from NH3 and CO2 with the yield of 523 μmol g−1 h−1, 40 and 4 times higher than that for benzene- and pyrazine-containing framework, respectively, indicating the heterocyclic N microenvironment-dependent catalytic performance for these three photocatalysts. This is further confirmed by in-situ spectroscopic characterization and density functional theory calculations. This work lays a way towards sustainable photosynthesis of urea.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-56307-w
spellingShingle Ning Li
Jiale Zhang
Xiangdong Xie
Kang Wang
Dongdong Qi
Jiang Liu
Ya-Qian Lan
Jianzhuang Jiang
3D N-heterocyclic covalent organic frameworks for urea photosynthesis from NH3 and CO2
Nature Communications
title 3D N-heterocyclic covalent organic frameworks for urea photosynthesis from NH3 and CO2
title_full 3D N-heterocyclic covalent organic frameworks for urea photosynthesis from NH3 and CO2
title_fullStr 3D N-heterocyclic covalent organic frameworks for urea photosynthesis from NH3 and CO2
title_full_unstemmed 3D N-heterocyclic covalent organic frameworks for urea photosynthesis from NH3 and CO2
title_short 3D N-heterocyclic covalent organic frameworks for urea photosynthesis from NH3 and CO2
title_sort 3d n heterocyclic covalent organic frameworks for urea photosynthesis from nh3 and co2
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-56307-w
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