Issue 13, 2019

Controlled growth of imine-linked two-dimensional covalent organic framework nanoparticles

Abstract

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) consist of monomers arranged in predictable structures with emergent properties. However, improved crystallinity, porosity, and solution processability remain major challenges. To this end, colloidal COF nanoparticles are useful for mechanistic studies of nucleation and growth and enable advanced spectroscopy and solution processing of thin films. Here we present a general approach to synthesize imine-linked 2D COF nanoparticles and control their size by favoring imine polymerization while preventing the nucleation of new particles. The method yields uniform, crystalline, and high-surface-area particles and is applicable to several imine-linked COFs. In situ X-ray scattering experiments reveal the nucleation of amorphous polymers, which crystallize via imine exchange processes during and after particle growth, consistent with previous mechanistic studies of imine-linked COF powders. The separation of particle formation and growth processes offers control of particle size and may enable further improvements in crystallinity in the future.

Graphical abstract: Controlled growth of imine-linked two-dimensional covalent organic framework nanoparticles

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Edge Article
Submitted
18 Jan 2019
Accepted
20 Feb 2019
First published
21 Feb 2019
This article is Open Access

All publication charges for this article have been paid for by the Royal Society of Chemistry
Creative Commons BY-NC license

Chem. Sci., 2019,10, 3796-3801

Controlled growth of imine-linked two-dimensional covalent organic framework nanoparticles

Rebecca L. Li, N. C. Flanders, A. M. Evans, W. Ji, I. Castano, L. X. Chen, N. C. Gianneschi and W. R. Dichtel, Chem. Sci., 2019, 10, 3796 DOI: 10.1039/C9SC00289H

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