Research Overview

Our research connects molecular design, porous materials, and catalysis to develop more sustainable routes to valuable chemicals. We focus on four complementary directions:

1. Sustainable and Scalable COF Synthesis

We develop sustainable methods for preparing covalent organic frameworks (COFs), with an emphasis on mechanochemical synthesis, reduced solvent use, and scalable production. We investigate how synthesis conditions influence crystallinity, porosity, and batch reproducibility, while exploring continuous manufacturing approaches.

2. New COF Linkages through Irreversible Bond Formation

We develop new linkage chemistries and synthetic strategies based on irreversible bond formation, seeking to reconcile robust covalent bonding with the formation of ordered frameworks. We investigate how linkage structure governs framework stability, electronic properties, and the local catalytic environment.

3. COF-Based and Single-Atom Catalysts

We design COF-based catalysts with well-defined metal sites, including isolated single-atom centres. By tailoring metal coordination, framework electronics, and pore chemistry, we establish structure–activity relationships and develop catalysts for selective organic transformations (e.g., aerobic oxidation, photocatalysis, cross-coupling reactions).

4. Electrocatalysis and Asymmetric Synthesis

We develop catalytic systems for selective hydrogenation, oxidation, combining catalyst design with electrode-interface engineering. We also explore chiral COFs for asymmetric transformations and integrate cofactor regeneration with enzyme catalysis to enable selective, sustainable synthesis.