Synthesis and characterization of covalent organic frameworks as thin films

Full text: Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are polymer assemblies with high crystallinity, high porosity and configurable skeletal structure. They have potential applications in filtration, gas storage, and electronic devices among others. However, the realization of these applications requires a high degree of morphological control in their preparation, and permanent high crystallinity – bonds in these frameworks are easily reversed in humid atmospheres. The construction of substrate-confined COF materials that are simultaneously highly crystalline, well-oriented and functional remains a challenge due to insufficient understanding of the basic mechanisms controlling the nucleation and growth of covalent organic frameworks, particularly on a substrate. This knowledge is crucial to further progress the development of more concrete techniques that will ultimately lead to covalent organic frameworks that are crystallographically and structurally well-defined in film form. In this poster, I will describe some of our recent progress towards synthesizing dense, crystalline COF layers. (author)