Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are promising photocatalysts for H2O2 production from water via oxygen reduction reactions (ORR). The design of COFs for efficient H2O2 production indubitably hinges on an in-depth understanding of their ORR mechanisms. In this work, taking an imine-linked COF as an example, we demonstrate that protonation of the functional units such as imine, amine, and triazine, is a highly efficient strategy to upgrade the activity levels for H2O2 synthesis. The protonation not only extends the light absorption of the COF but also provides proton sources that directly participate in H2O2 generation. Notably, the protonation simplifies the reaction pathways of ORR to H2O2, i.e. from an indirect superoxide radical ([[EQUATION]]) mediated route to a direct one-step two-electron route. Theoretical calculations confirm that the protonation favors H2O2 synthesis due to easy access of protons near the reaction sites that removes the energy barrier for generating *OOH intermediate. These findings not only extend the mechanistic insight into H2O2 photosynthesis but also provide a rational guideline for the design and upgradation of efficient COFs.
Keywords: Covalent Organic Framework; H2O2 photosynthesis; OXygen reduction reaction; photocatalyst; protonation.
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