Recent advances in stimuli-responsive covalent organic frameworks: from mechanism to applications

Abstract

Stimuli-responsive covalent organic frameworks (COFs) represent an emerging class of adaptive materials that synergize dynamic behavior with inherent porosity. This integration facilitates multi-stimuli responsiveness and confers substantial application potential across diverse domains. Herein, we systematically review stimuli-responsive behaviors and related mechanisms of smart COFs under physical, chemical, and combinatorial stimuli. Contemporary advances in material design are critically evaluated to correlate structural motifs with application performance in next-generation devices. Current research challenges and future development perspectives are analyzed to advance molecular engineering strategies. This work aims to establish foundational design principles for extending stimuli-responsive COF functionality to unexplored application scenarios.