Unveiling the Potential of Covalent Organic Frameworks for Energy Storage: Developments, Challenges, and Future Prospects

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are porous structures emerging as promising electrode materials due to their high structural diversity, controlled and wide pore network, and amenability to chemical modifications. COFs are solely composed of periodically arranged organic molecules, resulting in lightweight materials. Their inherent properties, such as extended surface area and diverse framework topologies, along with their high proclivity to chemical modification, have positioned COFs as sophisticated materials in the realm of electrochemical energy storage (EES). The modular structure of COFs facilitates the integration of key functions such as redox-active moieties, fast charge diffusion channels, composite formation with conductive counterparts, and highly porous network for accommodating charged energy carriers, which can significantly enhance their electrochemical performance. However, ascribing intricate porosity and redox-active functionalities to a single COF structure, while maintaining long-term electrochemical stability, is challenging. Efforts to overcome these hurdles embrace strategies such as the implementation of reversible linkages for structural flexibility, stimuli-responsive functionalities, and incorporating chemical groups to promote the formation of COF heterostructures. This review focuses on the recent progress of COFs in EES devices, such as batteries and supercapacitors, through a meticulous exploration of the latest strategies aimed at optimizing COFs as advanced electrodes in future EES technologies. Covalent organic frameworks are gaining recognition as versatile and sustainable materials in electrochemical energy storage, such as batteries and supercapacitors. Their lightweight structure with intricate porous networks across diverse topologies, fast charge diffusion channels, and their broad chemical diversity offering redox-active or catalytic side-functionalities are key elements for engineering the next generation of electrochemical energy storage technologies. image