Synthesis Of Optical Active Light Harvesting Graphene-COFs Hybrid Materials For Artificial Photosynthesis: Efficient Solar-To-Chemical Energy Conversion

The worsening global energy crisis demands exploration of sustainable and clean energy alternatives, with photocatalysis emerging as a promising technology. This research explores the in-situ polymerization of two-dimensional (2D) microporous covalent organic frameworks (COFs) onto aloe vera-derived graphene (ADG) to create composites with enhanced photocatalytic activity for NADH regeneration. We report an efficient artificial bio-photosynthetic system utilizing ADG-COF composite photocatalysts for CO₂ conversion to formic acid. The ADG-COFs, with a 2.31 eV band gap enabling visible light-driven photocatalysis, show successful synthesis and synergistic interaction between ADG and COF components, as confirmed by structural and morphological analysis. The exceptional performance can be attributed to ADG, which acts as an efficient electron collector and transporter, facilitating charge separation and prolonging the lifespan of photogenerated charge carriers within the COFs, significantly enhancing the overall photocatalytic activity. The integrated photocatalyst-biocatalyst system achieves efficient NADH regeneration and formic acid production from CO₂, demonstrating potential for solar-driven biocatalytic applications. The ADG-COFs composites demonstrated a significant enhanced HCOOH production rate, reaching 120 µmol/hour under visible light irradiation (420 nm) which is ten-times more than the pristine COFs. This research offers a more comprehensive understanding of the potential of ADG-COFs composites for efficient solar-driven NADH regeneration, paving the way for future advancements in clean hydrogen production technologies.