Strategic energy-level modulation in porous heterojunctions: advancing gas sensing through Type-I to Type-II transitions

• Published in: Nature communications Vol. 16; no. 1; pp. 6634 - 10
• Main Authors: Chen, Yong-Jun, Xu, Yi-Ming, Ye, Xiao-Liang, Luo, Zhi-Peng, Zhu, Shi-Peng, Li, Ke-Feng, Lu, Jiang-Feng, Wang, Guan-E, Xu, Gang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 18.07.2025; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 639/301/1005/1007; 639/638/298/921; Charge efficiency; Crystal structure; Customization; Efficiency; Energy; Energy levels; Fourier transforms; Gas sensors; Heterojunctions; Heterostructures; Humanities and Social Sciences; Irradiation; Ligands; Light irradiation; Metal-organic frameworks; Modulation; Morphology; multidisciplinary; Nitrogen dioxide; Porous materials; Porphyrins; Scanning electron microscopy; Science; Science (multidisciplinary)
• ISSN: 2041-1723; 2041-1723
• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-61836-5

To significantly enhance reaction efficiency of porous heterojunctions in various applications, precise engineering of customization heterostructures through energy-level modulation is indispensable. Herein, the preparation of a core-shell porous heterojunction, UiO-66@TDCOF, is reported. Taking advantage of adjustable structure of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), the energy-level of UiO-66 core is tailored to precisely align with that of porphyrin-based covalent organic framework (denoted as TDCOF) shell. As a results, the heterojunction transitions flexibly from a type-I to a type-II configuration, which remarkably enhances the efficiency of charge separation under light irradiation, resulting in exceptional performances in chemiresistive gas sensing. Notably, the sensitivity of (NH 2 ) 1.24 -UiO-66@TDCOF towards NO 2 is at a high level among all reported heterojunctions under visible-light condition, surpassing the majority of previously reported MOF and COF materials. This research not only presents a strategy for the design of heterojunctions but also gives an approach to material design tailored for chemical applications. A porous heterojunction is customized to transform from type-I to type-II through precisely regulating the energy level, which remarkably enhances the reaction efficiency, resulting in exceptional performance in chemiresistive gas sensing.