Scientific Perspective
Our perspective identifies common limitations in current practices in COF structure determination and illustrates the importance of collecting sufficient evidence to avoid mismatches between experimental data and proposed COF models. (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2026 e2132280. DOI: 10.1002/anie.2132280).
Covalent organic framework-309 (COF-309)
COF-309 with high hydrophilicity index breaks the record of water working capacity in water-harvesting COFs. Our hydrophilicity index equation can be used to ‘pinpoint’ the onset position of water harvesting isotherms using reticular materials (ACS Cent. Sci. 2025, 11, 665–671).
Covalent organic framework-39 (COF-39)
COF-39 is the first 3D COF formed by entanglement of 2D squares. This specific design relies on a flexible distorted tetrahedral linker which, when linked to linear amines, allows the interpenetration of the square net – entangled square structure (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2022, 144, 1539–1544).
Covalent organic framework-790 (COF-790)
Using conformational design through geometrical constraint, we designed and successfully synthesized COF-790 bearing a single framework of a new COF topology (fjh). This strategy is applicable for various structures and can be used to diversify the chemistry of 3D COFs (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2020, 142, 20335–20339).