Promoting charge separation by rational integration of a covalent organic framework on a BiVO4 photoanode

For the first time, covalent organic frameworks (COF-TpPa and COF-TpPaC) are selected to combine with the BiVO4 photoanode through a covalent bond. The heterojunction and covalent connection of COFs and BiVO4 can promote the separation of carriers, and the –CH3 on the benzene ring in COF-TpPaC as an electron donor group can increase the carrier concentration of the photoanode. As a result, the TpPaC/BiVO4 photoanode shows the best performance. This covalent hybridization strategy opens a new insight into the development of COF-modified photoanodes.