Recent progress in covalent organic framework thin films: fabrications, applications and perspectives

Improving Covalent Organic Frameworks Fluorescence by Triethylamine Pinpoint Surgery as Selective Biomarker Sensor for Diabetes Mellitus Diagnosis

The nitrogen-containing imine or hydrazone linked covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are poorly luminescent due to the fluorescence quenching by nitrogen atoms in the linkages, even if highly luminescent units and linkers are employed. The fluorescence quenching pathway to prevent linkage-originated to mitigate the inherent limitations of the linkage is a promising method for luminescent COFs. The generation of N^- by deprotonation of the N-H unit eliminates the electron transfer from N lone pair to COF (TpPa-1) and enhances the luminescence. In this work, TpPa-1 achieved turn-on luminescence response with good sensitivity and reproducibility toward triethylamine (TEA) vapor in the process of deprotonation. The fabricated detector offers a viable approach for sensing ppm-level TEA, which can remind people to take timely measures to reduce the environmental hazards caused by TEA. The fluorescent sensor TpPa-1@LE constructed by the products of TpPa-1 and TEA can quantitatively trace biomarker methylglyoxal (MGO) for diabetes mellitus diagnosis in serum system. Furthermore, using TEA and MGO as input signals and the two fluorescence emissions G476 and Y525 as output signals, an advanced analytical device based on two Boolean logic gates with INH and AND function is constructed. This work provides a new strategy for improving the weak luminescence of COF in aqueous solution and realizes selective response to biomarker (MGO) for diabetes mellitus diagnosis.

Imidazole-Linked Crystalline Two-Dimensional Polymer with Ultrahigh Proton-Conductivity

Proton-exchange membrane fuel cells are promising energy devices for a sustainable future due to green features, high power density, and mild operating conditions. A facile proton-conducting membrane plays a pivotal role to boost the efficiency of fuel cells, and hence focused research in this area is highly desirable. Major issues associated with the successful example of Nafion resulted in the search for alternate proton conducting materials. Even though proton carrier loaded crystalline porous organic frameworks have been used for proton-conduction, the weak host-guest interactions limited their practical use. Herein, we developed a crystalline 2D-polymer composed of benzimidazole units as the integral part, prepared by the condensation of aryl acid and diamine in polyphosphoric acid medium. The imidazole linked-2D-polymer exhibits ultrahigh proton conductivity (3.2 × 10^-2 S cm^-1) (at 95% relative humidity and 95 °C) in the pristine state, which is highest among the undoped porous organic frameworks so far reported. The present strategy of a crystalline proton-conducting 2D-polymer will lead to the development of new high performing crystalline solid proton conductor.

Metal Organic Frameworks as Robust Host of Palladium Nanoparticles in Heterogeneous Catalysis: Synthesis, Application, and Prospect

Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) are one set of the most excellent supports for Pd nanoparticles (NPs). MOFs as the host mainly have the following advantages: (i) they provide size limits for highly dispersed Pd NPs; (ii) fixing Pd NPs is beneficial for separation and reuse, avoiding the loss of expensive metals; (iii) the MOFs skeleton is diversified and functionalized, which is beneficial to enhancing the interaction with Pd NPs and prolonging the service life of the catalyst. This review discusses the synthesis strategy of Pd@MOF, which provides guidance for the synthesis of similar materials. After that, the research advance of Pd@MOF in heterogeneous catalysis is comprehensively summarized, including C-C coupling reaction, benzyl alcohol oxidation reaction, simple olefin hydrogenation reaction, nitroaromatic compound reduction, tandem reaction, and the photocatalysis, with the emphasis in providing a comparison with the performance of other alternative Pd-containing catalysts. In the final section, this review presents the current challenges and which are the next goals in this field.

Pyrenyl-Functionalized Polysiloxane Based on Synergistic Effect for Highly Selective and Highly Sensitive Detection of 4-Nitrotoluene

4-Nitrotoluene (NT) is an important intermediate for the manufacture of dyes, agricultural chemicals, medicaments, and synthetic fibers. But its wide use has resulted in a series of ecological problems and health issues due to high toxicity, mutagenicity, and carcinogenicity. However, no fluorescent probes with high selectivity and high sensitivity to NT has been reported yet, and the current probes usually prefer to detect multi-nitrosubstituted nitroaromatic compounds (NACs) including 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene and 2,4,6-trinitrophenol. Herein, we report a series of pyrene-functionalized polysiloxanes with high selectivity and high sensitivity to NT. Pyrene was introduced into polysiloxane through a carbon-carbon double bond, and the formed rigid side-chain fluorophore and flexible backbone structure of polysiloxane provide an ideal platform for the highly selective detection of NT. We further explored the possible response mechanism and speculated that the high selectivity and high sensitivity were derived from the synergistic effect between steric hindrance and dipolar interaction. In addition, paper sensors based on the obtained fluorescent materials were fabricated and change in their high sensitivity and visible fluorescence indicated that the paper sensor is a simple testing tool for portable and visual detection of NT. Furthermore, the design strategy in this work provides a novel synthetic route to synthesize other fluorescent probes with unique selectivity to NACs detection.

A multiple aptasensor for ultrasensitive detection of miRNAs by using covalent-organic framework nanowire as platform and shell-encoded gold nanoparticles as signal labels

We report herein a novel multiple electrochemical aptasensor based on covalent-organic framework (COF) for sensitive and simultaneous detection of miRNA 155 and miRNA 122, by using shell-encoded gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) as signal labels (AgNCs@AuNPs and Cu₂O@AuNPs, respectively, NCs = nanoclusters). A new COF nanowire was synthesized via condensation polymerization of 1,3,6,8-tetra(4-carboxylphenyl)pyrene and melamine (represented by TBAPy-MA-COF-COOH) for multiple aptasensor fabrication. The nanowire was then used as a platform for anchoring single-strand DNA (ssDNA), which was hybridized with the complementary aptamer (cApt) probes of miRNA 155 and miRNA 122. AgNCs@AuNPs and Cu₂O@AuNPs modified with cApts show separated differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) peaks at 0.08 and -0.1 V, respectively. The signal labels immobilized with cApts were released from the hybridized DNA complex and bound to their corresponding targets when contacting miRNAs. This phenomenon results in the substantial decline of the DPV peak current density of the signal labels. The developed TBAPy-MA-COF-COOH-based aptasensor has superior performance for sensing miRNA 155 and miRNA 122 simultaneously, with ultrasensitive low detection limits of 6.7 and 1.5 fM (S/N = 3), respectively, a wide linear range of 0.01-1000 pM, and high selectivity and applicability for serum samples. The proposed TBAPy-MA-based aptasensor demonstrates potential for simultaneous detection of multiple cancer biomarkers by replacing other ssDNA and aptamer strands.

Dynamic Adaptive Two-Dimensional Supramolecular Assemblies for On-Demand Filtration

The construction of synthetic two-dimensional (2D) materials designates a pathway to the versatile chemical functionality by spatial control. However, current 2D materials with intelligence of stimuli-responsibility and adaptiveness have been unfledged. The approach reported here uses a supramolecular strategy to achieve the dynamic non-covalent self-assembly of a rationally designed small molecule monomer, producing large-area, ultra-thin, porous 2D supramolecular assemblies, which are solution-processable in aqueous solution. Importantly, the 2D supramolecular assemblies exhibit distinct adaptive capability to automatically regulate their network density and pore diameters in response to environmental temperature change, which could be developed into an "on-demand" filtration application for nanoparticles. Meanwhile, the 2D supramolecular assemblies can also perform reversible degradation/reformation by photo-irradiation. Our results not only show the simplicity, reliability, and effectiveness of supramolecular strategies in the construction of 2D materials with practical sizes, but also push the dynamic alterability and adaptation features from supramolecular assemblies toward 2D materials.

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2D supramolecular assemblies combine large area, nano-thickness and water solubility

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The 2D assemblies can perform reversible expansion/contraction to tune pore sizes

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The 2D material can be used for on-demand nanoparticles filtration

Three-dimensional Salphen-based Covalent-Organic Frameworks as Catalytic Antioxidants

The development of three-dimensional (3D) functionalized covalent-organic frameworks (COFs) is of critical importance for expanding their potential applications. However, the introduction of functional groups in 3D COFs remains largely unexplored. Herein, we report the first example of 3D Salphen-based COFs (3D-Salphen-COFs) and their metal-containing counterparts (3D-M-Salphen-COFs). These Salphen-based COFs exhibit high crystallinity and specific surface area in addition to excellent chemical stability. Furthermore, the Cu(II)-Salphen COF displays high activity in the removal of superoxide radicals. This study not only presents a new pathway to construct 3D functionalized COFs but also promotes their applications in biology and medicine.

Recent advances in covalent organic frameworks (COFs) as a smart sensing material

Recent advances in covalent organic frameworks (COFs) as a smart sensing material are summarized and highlighted.

Ultrathin metal/covalent-organic framework membranes towards ultimate separation

Metal/covalent-organic framework (MOF/COF) membranes have attracted increasing research interest and have been considered as state-of-the-art platforms applied in various environment- and energy-related separation/transportation processes. To break the trade-off between permeability and selectivity to achieve ultimate separation, recent studies have been oriented towards how to design and exploit ultrathin MOF/COF membranes (i.e. sub-1 μm-thick). Given great advances made in the past five years, it is valuable to timely and systematically summarize the recent development and shed light on the future trend in this multidisciplinary field. In this review, we first present the advanced strategies in fabricating ultrathin defect-free MOF/COF membranes such as in situ growth, contra-diffusion method, layer-by-layer (LBL) assembly, metal-based precursor as the pre-functionalized layer, interface-assisted strategy, and laminated assembly of MOF/COF nanosheets. Then, the recent progress in some emerging applications of ultrathin MOF/COF membranes beyond gas separation is highlighted, including water treatment and seawater desalination, organic solvent nanofiltration, and energy-related separation/transportation (i.e. lithium ion separation and proton conductivity). Finally, some unsolved scientific and technical challenges associated with future perspectives in this field are discussed, inspiring the development of next-generation separation membranes.

Covalent organic frameworks for membrane separation

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs), a new class of crystalline porous materials, comprises periodically extended and covalently bound network structures.

A 3D electropolymerized thin film based on a thiophene-functionalized Ru(ii) complex: electrochemical and photoelectrochemical insights

A 3D electropolymerized Ru(ii) complex film exhibited a rapid redox reaction and an oxygen reduction enhanced photocurrent which increased by 1.5 fold to 2.3 μA cm⁻².

Decorating Ag3PO4 nanodots on mesoporous silica-functionalized NaYF4:Yb,Tm@NaLuF4 for efficient sunlight-driven photocatalysis: synergy of broad spectrum absorption and pollutant adsorption-enrichment

A broad-spectrum photocatalyst with pollutant-adsorption capability was synthesized by decorating silver orthophosphate nanodots on mesoporous silica-functionalized upconversion nanoparticles for efficient natural sunlight-driven photocatalysis.