Design, Synthesis, Characterization and Host-Guest Interaction Studies of Triazine based Covalent Organic Frameworks

Abstract

Four cyano-based covalent organic frameworks (COFs) were designed and synthesized successfully at room temperature in the presence of triflic acid. The starting cyano compounds differed structurally as we preferred dicyano, tricyano and tetracyano so as to find the topological difference obtained after cyclotrimerisation of the starting materials. The synthesized frameworks were characterized using PXRD and elemental analysis. Gas sorption and solvent sorption measurements were carried out to confirm the porosity of the obtained framework and excellent results were obtained for the same. High thermal stability was confirmed using TGA and display of exceptional luminescent properties along with change in properties in the presence aromatic rich solvent was confirmed by recording the UV-Vis spectra and carrying out the solid state fluorescence studies. SEM images were also recorded so as find out the structural arrangement and it revealed a highly crystalline extended network. Possession of excellent fluorescent property along with strategically designed structure is definitely going to make this material one of the most sought after in the field of optoelectronics and explosive detection.