Nanoporous covalent organic frameworks for high-capacity adsorbents with photocatalytic degradation
Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) that adsorb chemical contaminants and degrade them under visible or UV light. The technology can be integrated into textiles, fibers, membranes, and HEPA filtration systems, with tunable chemistry for targeted adsorption capacity and photochemical performance.
Overview
This solution leverages covalent organic frameworks (COFs), a class of nanoporous organic materials, to create high-capacity, low-cost adsorbents for chemical contaminants in air. Unlike conventional adsorbents, these COFs both capture target chemicals and photocatalytically degrade them under visible or UV light, enabling self-regenerating filtration. The COF chemistry is tunable, allowing optimization for adsorption capacity, chemical selectivity, or photochemical activity. The materials can be processed into membranes, films, coatings, aerogels, and foams, making integration with existing filtration hardware straightforward.
Technical specifications
Key features:
- High adsorption capacity for molecular contaminants, demonstrated to outperform conventional adsorbents in COF aerogel form
- Photocatalytic degradation of adsorbed chemicals under visible or UV light, including organic dyes and PFAS contaminants
- Colorimetric sensing capability, with thin-film dual-pore perylene-based COFs detecting acid vapors at concentrations as low as 35 μg/L
- Solution-processable into membranes, films, coatings, foams, and aerogels for flexible device integration
- Tunable chemistry to target specific chemicals, increase adsorption capacity, or tailor photochemical properties
- Compatible with HEPA filtration systems through integration into fibers, porous surfaces, or filter media
Technology readiness level
The technology is at an early-to-mid stage of development. Prior published work has validated individual capabilities: high adsorption capacity, photochemical activity, and solution processing into membranes and foams. The proposed next phase involves screening COF chemistries for vapor adsorption, studying photodegradation kinetics, developing coated fiber and filter prototypes, and building a laboratory-scale proof-of-concept system. Future work will quantify adsorption capacity, photodegradation kinetics, and adsorbent lifetime to advance toward practical deployment.
About Rice University
Rice University is a private research university in Houston recognized for small scale and intensive research. Industry engages through on-campus design and prototyping facilities and multi-tenant research space adjacent to the Texas Medical Center, enabling clinical collaboration and rapid validation. A university-backed innovation district in central Houston links corporate R&D with faculty labs, startups, and talent, and proximity to the Energy Corridor and NASA’s Johnson Space Center provides access to regional clusters. Research is supported by competitive federal funding from agencies such as NSF, NIH, DOE, NASA, and DoD. A dedicated technology transfer office supports IP strategy, licensing, startup formation, and streamlined sponsored research agreements.
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