Efficient Capture and Low Energy Release of NH3 by Azophenol Decorated Photoresponsive Covalent Organic Frameworks

Abstract In NH 3 capture technologies, the desorption process is usually driven by high temperature and low pressure (such as 150–200 °C under vacuum), which accounts for intensive energy consumption and CO 2 emission. Developing light responsive adsorbent is promising in this regard but remains a great challenge. Here, we for the first time designed and synthesized a light responsive azophenol‐containing covalent organic framework (COF), COF‐HNU38, to address this challenge. We found that at 25 °C and 1.0 bar, the cis ‐COF exhibited a NH 3 uptake capacity of 7.7 mmol g −1 and a NH 3 /N 2 selectivity of 158. In the adsorbed NH 3 , about 29.0 % could be removed by vis‐light irradiated cis‐trans isomerization at 25 °C, and the remaining NH 3 might be released at 25 °C under vacuum. Almost no decrease in adsorption capacity was observed after eight adsorption‐desorption cycles. As such, an efficient NH 3 capture and low energy release strategy was established thanks to the multiple hydrogen bond interactions (which are strong in total but weak in individuals) between NH 3 and the smart COF, as well as the increased polarity and number of hydrogen bond sites after the trans‐cis isomerization.