APPLICATIONS OF TECHNOLOGY:
- Gas adsorption / desorption
- Catalysis
- CO2 reduction
- Environmental decontamination of water or air
ADVANTAGES:
- Exceptional chemical stability
- Possesses very high surface area
- Improved semiconducting properties
ABSTRACT:
Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory’s Molecular Foundry have invented a technology to stabilize and functionalize a wide range of covalent organic frameworks (COFs) after they have been synthesized. The technology transforms imine-based COFs into a fully conjugated COFs without losing porosity and crystallinity. Therefore, the LBNL technology will facilitate practical applications of organic framework materials that require enhanced chemical stability, semiconducting properties, and pore surface functionality.
Specifically, the technology converts the C-N bond into a more stable ring of carbon and nitrogen to, in essence, lock the bond. Functional groups to support catalysis and other processes can be attached to the stable ring as well. Resulting materials have superior stability in the presence trifilic acid, strong base, strong oxidant, and reducing agents for a significant improvement over the COFs prior to the transformation.
Such a succinct protocol enables the synthesis of a class of organic material that is difficult to obtain de novo. Until now, most COFs have been made by the reversible imine chemistry, which lacks long term chemical stability under harsh conditions.
DEVELOPMENT STAGE: Proven principle
STATUS: Published U. S. Patent Application 16/206,979 (Publication No. US2019-0161623). Available for licensing or collaborative research.
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