Vinylene-Linked Two-Dimensional Covalent Organic Frameworks: Synthesis and Functions

Two-dimensional conjugated covalent organic frameworks (2D-c-COFs) with covalently bonded repeat units, crystalline and porous frameworks, and in-plane π-conjugations have attracted immense attention. The precise structure and predictable properties of 2D-c-COFs can be applied to specific applications, such as energy storage/conversion, and optoelectronics. In particular, over the last five years, vinylene-linked 2D covalent organic frameworks (V-2D-COFs) have been extensively explored due to their high in-plane π-conjugation and robust nature.

In this Account, we summarized the important developments of V-2D-COFs, from synthetic methods to unique physical properties and functions. For the synthetic methodologies, three reaction methodologies are introduced, including the Knoevenagel-, other aldol-type-, and Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons polycondensations. Afterward, the optoelectronic and magnetic properties of V-2D-COFs are presented. Finally, the promising applications of V-2D-COF, including sensing, photocatalysis, energy storage and conversion are further demonstrated, which demonstrate the merits resulting from the robust vinylene-linked skeleton, full in-plane π-conjugation, and tunable structures.

Reference: Shunqi Xu, Marcus Richter, and Xinliang Feng*. Vinylene-Linked Two-Dimensional Covalent Organic Frameworks: Synthesis and Functions. Acc. Mater. Res. 2021. doi.org/10.1021/accountsmr.1c00017.

Acknowledgments: This work was supported financially by the EU Graphene Flagship (Graphene Core, No. 881603), the Collaborative Research Center (CRC) 1415 “Chemistry of Synthetic Two-Dimensional Materials” (No. 417590517), H2020-MSCA-ITN (ULTIMATE, No. 813036), the Center for Advancing Electronics Dresden (cfaed), and the ERC Consolidator Grant (T2DCP, No. 819698). We thank Dr. Naisa Chandrasekhar, Prof. Bishnu P. Biswal, M. Sc. Dominik Pasoetter and M. Sc. Albrecht Waentig for the helpful discussion.