Using coordination templates within covalent organic frameworks (COFs) can significantly enhance the selective properties of these materials. Herein, 1,4-phthalaldehyde, 2,4, 6-trimethyl-1,3, 5-triazine, and a scandium coordination complex were selected to perform a three-in-one strategy, and a class of stable olefin-linked covalent organic frameworks with coordination templates were synthesized. By adjusting the proportion of organic ligands to scandium complexes, a range of crystalline COFs with tunable scandium incorporation levels has been obtained. Upon removing scandium from the material with the suitable metal content, we achieved a metal-imprinted COF (De-Sc-0.33), demonstrating remarkable affinity and selectivity for Sc3+ ions, even in acidic environments and amidst competing metal ions (53.56 mg/g). In particular, the skeleton benefits from the characteristics of olefins, and its regenerability and stability in highly acidic environments surpass those of existing scandium adsorbents (with a capacity drop of less than 2 % after 20 cycles), thus holding tremendous potential for the enrichment of scandium in practical applications.
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