The conversion of solar energy and water to hydrogen via semiconductor photocatalysts is one of the efficient strategies to mitigate the energy and environmental crisis. Conjugated polymeric photocatalysts have advantages over their inorganic counterparts. Their molecular structures, band structures, and electronic properties are easily tunable through molecular engineering to extend their spectral response ranges, improve their quantum efficiencies, and enhance their hydrogen evolution rates. In particular, covalent triazine-based frameworks (CTFs) present a strong potential for solar-driven hydrogen generation due to their large continuous π-conjugated structure, high thermal and chemical stability, and efficient charge transfer and separation capability. Herein, synthesis strategies, functional optimization, and applications in the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution of CTFs since the first investigation are reviewed. Finally, the challenges of hydrogen generation for CTFs are summarized, and the direction of material modifications is proposed.
Keywords: covalent triazine-based frameworks; hydrogen generation; photocatalysis; polymeric photocatalyst.