Oriented Thiophene-Extended Benzotrithiophene Covalent Organic Framework Thin Films: Directional Electrical Conductivity

The synthesis of covalent organic frameworks (COFs) based on a novel thiophene-extended benzotrithiophene (BTT) building block is described, which in combination with triazine-based amines (1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triyl)trianiline (TTA) or (1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triyl)tris(([1,1 '-biphenyl]-4-amine)) (TTTBA)) affords crystalline, and porous imine-linked COFs, BTT TTA and BTT TTTBA, with surface areas as high as 932 and 1200 m(2) g(-1), respectively. Oriented thin films are grown successfully on different substrates, as indicated by grazing incidence diffraction (GID). Room-temperature in-plane electrical conductivity of up to 10(-4) S m(-1) is measured for both COFs. Temperature-dependent electrical conductivity measurements indicate activation energies of approximate to 123.3 meV for BTT TTA and approximate to 137.5 meV for BTT TTTBA and trap-dominated charge transport via a hopping mechanism for both COFs. Moreover, conductive atomic force microscopy reveals directional and defect-dominated charge transport in the oriented BTT COF films with a strong preference for the in-plane direction within the molecular 2D-planes. Quantum mechanical calculations predict BTT TTTBA to conduct holes and electrons effectively in both in-plane and out-of-plane directions. In-plane, charge carrier transport is of hopping character where the triazine cores represent the barrier. Out-of-plane, a continuous charge-carrier pathway is calculated that is hampered by an imposed structural defect simulated by a rotated molecular COF layer

Solvatochromic covalent organic frameworks.

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are an emerging class of highly tuneable crystalline, porous materials. Here we report the first COFs that change their electronic structure reversibly depending on the surrounding atmosphere. These COFs can act as solid-state supramolecular solvatochromic sensors that show a strong colour change when exposed to humidity or solvent vapours, dependent on vapour concentration and solvent polarity. The excellent accessibility of the pores in vertically oriented films results in ultrafast response times below 200 ms, outperforming commercially available humidity sensors by more than an order of magnitude. Employing a solvatochromic COF film as a vapour-sensitive light filter, we demonstrate a fast humidity sensor with full reversibility and stability over at least 4000 cycles. Considering their immense chemical diversity and modular design, COFs with fine-tuned solvatochromic properties could broaden the range of possible applications for these materials in sensing and optoelectronics