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Updated: Jun 11, 2026
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Microfluidic-based Synthesis of Covalent Organic Frameworks (COFs): A Tool for Continuous Production of COF Fibers and Direct Printing on a Surface
Published on: July 10, 2017
Single-Crystalline Twelve-Connected Nanographene-Based Covalent Organic Frameworks.
Saber Mirzaei1, M Saeed Mirzaei1,2, Mei-Yan Gao1
1Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States.
Journal of the American Chemical Society
|June 10, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed new covalent organic frameworks (COFs) using a nanographene building block. These highly porous materials exhibit unprecedented network topologies and record-breaking surface areas for COFs.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Chemistry
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Reticular chemistry enables complex crystalline frameworks from molecular building blocks.
- Designing novel architectures requires precise control over molecular geometry and connectivity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize novel three-dimensional imine-linked covalent organic frameworks (COFs) using a functionalized nanographene.
- To explore new network topologies and high porosity in COFs.
Main Methods:
- Design and synthesis of a dodeca-benzaldehyde-functionalized nanographene (HBC-LA12).
- Reticulation of HBC-LA12 with triangular prismatic and square-planar linkers to form imine-linked COFs (COF-612 and COF-412).
- Structural characterization and gas-sorption analysis of the resulting COFs.
Main Results:
- Successful synthesis of two single-crystalline 3D imine-linked COFs, COF-612 and COF-412.
- Realization of unprecedented (3,6,6)-connected (kez) and (3,4,6)-connected (cez) network topologies in COFs.
- Achieved permanent porosity with Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface areas exceeding 5000 m² g⁻¹.
Conclusions:
- Demonstrated the incorporation of nanographenes into 3D imine-linked COFs.
- Reported the highest-connectivity single-crystalline COFs with novel network topologies.
- Achieved the highest porosity reported to date for covalent organic frameworks.
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