# COF-366-Co: cobalt porphyrin COF for CO₂ reduction

> Cobalt porphyrins joined by imine struts form square-grid layers that stack into a porous solid with a catalytic cobalt site at every corner. On an electrode in water at pH 7, the framework reduces CO₂ to CO with 90% Faradaic efficiency and up to 290,000 turnovers per cobalt, at an overpotential of −0.55 V: a 26-fold gain in activity over the molecular cobalt complex, with no degradation over 24 hours.

- Page: https://www.labcanvas.com/templates/covalent-organic-frameworks/cof-366-co-porphyrin-co2-reduction
- Open in the LabCanvas editor (LabCanvas account): https://www.labcanvas.com/editor.html?template=cof-366-co-porphyrin-co2-reduction
- Updated: 2026-10-14
- Category: Covalent organic frameworks
- Method: Electrocatalysis, bottom-up
- Starting materials: 5,10,15,20-Tetrakis(4-aminophenyl)porphinato cobalt (Co(TAP)) and terephthaldehyde (BDA)
- Product: COF-366-Co: imine-linked square-grid layers of cobalt porphyrins
- Key result: 90% Faradaic efficiency for CO; TON up to 290,000, initial TOF 9400 h⁻¹; 26-fold activity of the molecular Co complex; stable for 24 h
- Figure: 1920 × 1080 px, 87 editable layers (13 generated objects with settings)

## Steps

1. **Imine condensation**: Co(TAP) corners joined by BDA struts: square-grid (sql) layers
2. **Stacking**: Layers stack into a porous solid with Co sites along the channels
3. **Electrode**: The COF on a working electrode in water at pH 7
4. **CO₂ → CO**: CO₂ + 2 H⁺ + 2 e⁻ → CO + H₂O at the Co centres; 90% Faradaic efficiency at −0.55 V overpotential
5. **Durability**: Up to 290,000 turnovers (initial TOF 9400 h⁻¹); no degradation over 24 h (Lin et al. 2015)

## Strengths

- Every porphyrin a catalytic site, held apart and accessible
- Works in water at neutral pH
- Modular: struts and metal can be changed

## Limitations

- The powder has to be made into an electrode film
- Imine links limit use in strong acid

## Uses

- Electrochemical CO₂ conversion to CO
- A platform for molecular catalysts in frameworks

## References

1. Lin et al., “Covalent organic frameworks comprising cobalt porphyrins for catalytic CO₂ reduction in water”, Science 2015. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aac8343 (primary)
2. Diercks & Yaghi, “The atom, the molecule, and the covalent organic framework”, Science 2017. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aal1585 (review)
3. Geng et al., “Covalent Organic Frameworks: Design, Synthesis, and Functions”, Chem. Rev. 2020. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemrev.9b00550 (review)

Credit: After Lin et al., Science 2015 (doi:10.1126/science.aac8343) and Diercks & Yaghi, Science 2017 (doi:10.1126/science.aal1585). Layers drawn from bond lengths; cell and electrode schematic.

## Questions

**What does the “COF-366-Co: cobalt porphyrin COF for CO₂ reduction” template show?** Cobalt porphyrins joined by imine struts form square-grid layers that stack into a porous solid with a catalytic cobalt site at every corner. On an electrode in water at pH 7, the framework reduces CO₂ to CO with 90% Faradaic efficiency and up to 290,000 turnovers per cobalt, at an overpotential of −0.55 V: a 26-fold gain in activity over the molecular cobalt complex, with no degradation over 24 hours.

**What are the steps shown in “COF-366-Co: cobalt porphyrin COF for CO₂ reduction”?** 1. Imine condensation: Co(TAP) corners joined by BDA struts: square-grid (sql) layers. 2. Stacking: Layers stack into a porous solid with Co sites along the channels. 3. Electrode: The COF on a working electrode in water at pH 7. 4. CO₂ → CO: CO₂ + 2 H⁺ + 2 e⁻ → CO + H₂O at the Co centres; 90% Faradaic efficiency at −0.55 V overpotential. 5. Durability: Up to 290,000 turnovers (initial TOF 9400 h⁻¹); no degradation over 24 h (Lin et al. 2015).

**What are the starting materials and the product?** Starting materials: 5,10,15,20-Tetrakis(4-aminophenyl)porphinato cobalt (Co(TAP)) and terephthaldehyde (BDA). Product: COF-366-Co: imine-linked square-grid layers of cobalt porphyrins.

**Which papers is “COF-366-Co: cobalt porphyrin COF for CO₂ reduction” based on?** Lin et al., “Covalent organic frameworks comprising cobalt porphyrins for catalytic CO₂ reduction in water”, Science 2015 (doi:10.1126/science.aac8343); Diercks & Yaghi, “The atom, the molecule, and the covalent organic framework”, Science 2017 (doi:10.1126/science.aal1585); Geng et al., “Covalent Organic Frameworks: Design, Synthesis, and Functions”, Chem. Rev. 2020 (doi:10.1021/acs.chemrev.9b00550).

**Can I edit the “COF-366-Co: cobalt porphyrin COF for CO₂ reduction” template?** Yes. Open it in the LabCanvas editor: all 87 layers are editable, including 13 generated objects (structures, plots, equipment) with their own settings. Change the text, colours and layout, then export PNG, TIFF, SVG or PDF.

**Do I need an account to use this template?** Not to view it here. To open and edit it, sign in to LabCanvas or create a free account (the free plan keeps one design of each kind). Downloading the figure is part of LabCanvas Pro (US$19 a month or US$199 a year).