Functional strategies and performance assessment of covalent organic framework–based materials for carbon dioxide capture

Anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions pose a major threat to the environment and public health. The advancement and implementation of CO2 capture and storage (CCS) technologies have progressed alongside improvements in various capture approaches (e.g., solid adsorbents, solvent-based capture, and membranes). The practical utility of an adsorption system is determined by multiple factors, including high selectivity, energy efficiency, scalability, and reusability. Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have emerged as a promising class of porous adsorbents for CCS. The functionality of COFs can be enhanced significantly either through composite formation with MOFs or ionic liquids or through various modification strategies (e.g., pore surface engineering and metal ion-doping). The viability of those options with regard to their CCS potential is evaluated here using the partition coefficient and adsorption capacity. The regeneration of COFs following CO2 capture is also discussed to help expand their practical applications. Furthermore, current challenges and future research directions are outlined to help enhance the scalability and performance of COF-based materials in real-world conditions.