Plasmonic bimetallic Au-Ag nanoclusters embedded in covalent organic frameworks as efficient photocatalysts for...

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) demonstrate great potential as photocatalysts for the remediation of organic pollutants; however, their efficiency is often limited by the factor of rapid electron-hole recombination. In response to this challenge, we anchor ultrasmall (∼2.5 nm) bimetallic Au-Ag nanoclusters within the porous architecture of a nitrogen-rich COFs scaffold. The nitrogenated frameworks not only provide a high surface area and abundant active sites but also facilitate electron transfer. Meanwhile, the ultrafine Au-Ag nanoclusters exhibit strong plasmonic coupling, serving as dual light-harvesting units and electron transfer mediators. This synergistic configuration enhances carrier separation, enabling plasmon-exciton co-driven catalysis. The optimized COF-Au-Ag achieves simultaneous degradation of nizatidine (NZTD) and production of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) via a unified photocatalytic mechanism centered on efficient charge separation and directional migration. This photocatalyst illustrates excellent recyclability in five consecutive cycles of use, offering a novel approach for designing multifunctional COF-based photocatalytic systems.