A Metal-Free Triazacoronene-Based Bimodal VOC Sensor

Developing suitable sensors for selective and sensitive detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is crucial for monitoring indoor and outdoor air quality. VOCs are very harmful to our health upon inhalation or contact. Bimodal sensor materials with more than one transduction capability (optical and electrical) offer the ability to extract complementary information from the individual analyte, thus improving detection accuracy and performance. The privilege of manipulating the optoelectronic properties of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-based semiconducting materials offers rapid signal transduction in multimodal sensing applications. A thiophene-functionalized triazacoronene (TTAC) donor-acceptor-donor (D-A-D) type sensor is reported here for VOC sensing. The single-crystal X-ray structure analysis of the TTAC revealed that a distinctive supramolecular polymer architecture was formed because of cooperative π-π and intermolecular D-A interactions and exhibited rapid signal transduction upon exposure to specific VOCs. The TTAC-embedded green luminescent paper-based test strip exhibited an on-off fluorescence response upon nitrobenzene vapor exposure for 120 s. The selective and rapid response is due to the fast photoinduced electron transfer, as is evident from the time-resolved excited-state dynamics and density functional theory studies. The thick-film-based prototype chemiresistive sensor detects harmful VOCs in a custom-made gas sensing system including benzene, toluene, and nitrobenzene. The TTAC sensor rapidly responds (200 s) at relatively low temperatures (180 οC) compared to other reported metal-oxide-based sensors.

Metal-Free Chemoselective Reduction of Nitroarenes Catalyzed by Covalent Triazine Frameworks: The Role of Embedded Heteroatoms

Chemoselective reduction of nitroarenes to arylamines is a core technology for the synthesis of numerous chemicals. The technology, however, relies on applying precious noble metal catalysts. We present our findings on the development of robust nanoporous covalent triazine frameworks (CTFs) as metal-free catalysts for the green chemoselective reduction of nitroarenes. The turnover frequency is found to be 43.03 h^-1, exceeding activities of the heteroatom-doped carbon nanomaterials by a factor of 30. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and control experiments provide further insights into the nature of active species for prompt catalysis. This report confirms the importance of quaternary 'N' and 'F' atom functionalities to create active hydrogen species via charge delocalization as a critical step in improving the catalytic activity.

Metformin-Templated Nanoporous ZnO and Covalent Organic Framework Heterojunction Photoanode for Photoelectrochemical Water Oxidation

Photoelectrochemical water-splitting offers unique opportunity in the utilization of abundant solar light energy and water resources to produce hydrogen (renewable energy) and oxygen (clean environment) in the presence of a semiconductor photoanode. Zinc oxide (ZnO), a wide bandgap semiconductor is found to crystallize predominantly in the hexagonal wurtzite phase. Herein, we first report a new crystalline triclinic phase of ZnO by using N-rich antidiabetic drug metformin as a template via hydrothermal synthesis with self-assembled nanorod-like particle morphology. We have fabricated a heterojunction nanocomposite charge carrier photoanode by coupling this porous ZnO with a covalent organic framework, which displayed highly enhanced photocurrent density of 0.62 mA/cm² at 0.2 V vs. RHE in photoelectrochemical water oxidation and excellent photon-to-current conversion efficiency at near-neutral pH vis-à-vis bulk ZnO. This enhancement of the photocurrent for the porous ZnO/COF nanocomposite material over the corresponding bulk ZnO could be attributed to the visible light energy absorption by COF and subsequent efficient charge-carrier mobility via porous ZnO surface.

Covalent Organic Frameworks: Design, Synthesis, and Functions

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are a class of crystalline porous organic polymers with permanent porosity and highly ordered structures. Unlike other polymers, a significant feature of COFs is that they are structurally predesignable, synthetically controllable, and functionally manageable. In principle, the topological design diagram offers geometric guidance for the structural tiling of extended porous polygons, and the polycondensation reactions provide synthetic ways to construct the predesigned primary and high-order structures. Progress over the past decade in the chemistry of these two aspects undoubtedly established the base of the COF field. By virtue of the availability of organic units and the diversity of topologies and linkages, COFs have emerged as a new field of organic materials that offer a powerful molecular platform for complex structural design and tailor-made functional development. Here we target a comprehensive review of the COF field, provide a historic overview of the chemistry of the COF field, survey the advances in the topology design and synthetic reactions, illustrate the structural features and diversities, scrutinize the development and potential of various functions through elucidating structure-function correlations based on interactions with photons, electrons, holes, spins, ions, and molecules, discuss the key fundamental and challenging issues that need to be addressed, and predict the future directions from chemistry, physics, and materials perspectives.

Correction: A new triazine based π-conjugated mesoporous 2D covalent organic framework: its in vitro anticancer activities

Correction for 'A new triazine based π-conjugated mesoporous 2D covalent organic framework: its in vitro anticancer activities' by Sabuj Kanti Das et al., Chem. Commun., 2018, 54, 11475-11478.

A new triazine based π-conjugated mesoporous 2D covalent organic framework: itsin vitroanticancer activities

A new 2D π-conjugated COF, TrzCOF has been synthesized and it showed excellent anticancer activity for the colorectal carcinoma HCT-116 cell line.

Luminescent Porous Polymers Based on Aggregation-Induced Mechanism: Design, Synthesis and Functions

Enormous research efforts are focusing on the design and synthesis of advanced luminescent systems, owing to their diverse capability in scientific studies and technological developments. In particular, fluorescence systems based on aggregation-induced emission (AIE) have emerged to show great potential for sensing, bio-imaging, and optoelectronic applications. Among them, integrating AIE mechanisms to design porous polymers is unique because it enables the combination of porosity and luminescence activity in one molecular skeleton for functional design. In recent years rapid progress in exploring AIE-based porous polymers has developed a new class of luminescent materials that exhibit broad structural diversity, outstanding properties and functions and promising applications. By classifying the structural nature of the skeleton, herein the design principle, synthetic development and structural features of different porous luminescent materials are elucidated, including crystalline covalent organic frameworks (COFs), metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), and amorphous porous organic polymers (POPs). The functional exploration of these luminescent porous polymers are highlighted by emphasizing electronic interplay within the confined nanospace, fundamental issues to be addressed are disclosed, and future directions from chemistry, physics and materials science perspectives are proposed.

Highly Emissive Covalent Organic Frameworks

Highly luminescent covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are rarely achieved because of the aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) of π-π stacked layers. Here, we report a general strategy to design highly emissive COFs by introducing an aggregation-induced emission (AIE) mechanism. The integration of AIE-active units into the polygon vertices yields crystalline porous COFs with periodic π-stacked columnar AIE arrays. These columnar AIE π-arrays dominate the luminescence of the COFs, achieve exceptional quantum yield via a synergistic structural locking effect of intralayer covalent bonding and interlayer noncovalent π-π interactions and serve as a highly sensitive sensor to report ammonia down to sub ppm level. Our strategy breaks through the ACQ-based mechanistic limitations of COFs and opens a way to explore highly emissive COF materials.

Rational design of crystalline supermicroporous covalent organic frameworks with triangular topologies

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are an emerging class of highly ordered porous polymers with many potential applications. They are currently designed and synthesized through hexagonal and tetragonal topologies, limiting the access to and exploration of new structures and properties. Here, we report that a triangular topology can be developed for the rational design and synthesis of a new class of COFs. The triangular topology features small pore sizes down to 12 Å, which is among the smallest pores for COFs reported to date, and high π-column densities of up to 0.25 nm⁻², which exceeds those of supramolecular columnar π-arrays and other COF materials. These crystalline COFs facilitate π-cloud delocalization and are highly conductive, with a hole mobility that is among the highest reported for COFs and polygraphitic ensembles.

Covalent organic frameworks are currently arousing considerable interest due to their desirable properties for a wide range of applications. Here, Jiang et al. report two such materials with triangular topologies which exhibit high hole mobility arising from extensive π-cloud delocalisation.

Anion recognition by simple chromogenic and chromo-fluorogenic salicylidene Schiff base or reduced-Schiff base receptors

This review contains extensive application of anion sensing ability of salicylidene type Schiff bases and their reduced forms having various substituents with respect to phenolic OH group. Some of these molecular systems behave as receptor for recognition or sensing of various anions in organic or aqueous-organic binary solvent mixture as well as in the solid supported test kits. Development of Schiff base or reduced Schiff base receptors for anion recognition event is commonly based on the theory of hydrogen bonding interaction or deprotonation of phenolic -OH group. The process of charge transfer (CT) or inhibition of excited proton transfer (ESIPT) or followed by photo-induced electron transfer (PET) lead to naked-eye color change, UV-vis spectral change, chemical shift in the NMR spectra and fluorescence spectral modifications. In this review we have tried to discuss about the anion sensing properties of Schiff base or reduced Schiff base receptors.

Two-dimensional tetrathiafulvalene covalent organic frameworks: towards latticed conductive organic salts

The construction of a new class of covalent TTF lattice by integrating TTF units into two-dimensional covalent organic frameworks (2D COFs) is reported. We explored a general strategy based on the C2 +C2 topological diagram and applied to the synthesis of microporous and mesoporous TTF COFs. Structural resolutions revealed that both COFs consist of layered lattices with periodic TTF columns and tetragonal open nanochannels. The TTF columns offer predesigned pathways for high-rate hole transport, predominate the HOMO and LUMO levels of the COFs, and are redox active to form organic salts that exhibit enhanced electric conductivity by several orders of magnitude. On the other hand, the linkers between the TTF units play a vital role in determining the carrier mobility and conductivity through the perturbation of 2D sheet conformation and interlayer distance. These results open a way towards designing a new type of TTF materials with stable and predesignable lattice structures for functional exploration.

Spectral properties of a simple azine Schiff base and its sensing ability towards protic environment through hydrogen bonding interaction

A simple azine linkage containing Schiff base p-N,N-diethylaminobenzaldazine (PDEAB) has been synthesized and its spectroscopic properties have been investigated using steady state absorption and fluorescence measurement. Both the absorption and emission studies indicate that the compound PDEAB forms intermolecular hydrogen bond with protic solvents. The formation of intermolecular hydrogen bond between PDEAB and protic solvents is further verified by Quantum chemical calculation using Density Functional Theory (DFT) (B3LYP/6-31++G(d,p)) and Natural Bond Orbital (NBO) analysis. The non-fluorescent nature (fluorescence off) of PDEAB in aprotic environment can be switched over to a fluorescent system (fluorescence on) in presence of protic solvents and hence this molecule can be used as highly sensitive fluorosensor for protic solvent in aprotic medium like ACN or DOX.

Solvent modulated photophysics of 9-methyl anthroate: exploring the effect of polarity and hydrogen bonding on the emissive state

Photophysical properties of an anthracene derivative 9-methyl anthroate (9-MA) have been investigated using absorption and emission spectroscopy, in combination with quantum chemical calculations. Solvatochromic effects on the Stokes shifted emission band clearly demonstrate the highly polar character of the excited state, which is also supported by the enhancement of dipole moment of the molecule upon photoexcitation. The emission band has been found to be dependent on polarity and hydrogen-bonding ability of the solvents. Multiple linear regression analysis method has been utilized to rationalize the effect of hydrogen bonding interaction on the emissive state, which was further confirmed by the analysis of the non-radiative decay constants and urea induced H-bonding disruption study. The experimental results correlate well with theoretical predictions obtained via density functional theory (DFT).

"Test kit" for detection of biologically important anions: a salicylidene-hydrazine based Schiff base

Test paper coated with Schiff base [(N,N(/)-bis(5-nitro-salicylidene)hydrazine] receptor 1 (host) can selectively detect fluoride and acetate ions (guest) by developing yellow color which can be detected by naked-eye both in aqueous-acetonitrile solution and in solid supported test kit. UV-vis spectral analysis shows that the absorption peaks at 288 and 345 nm of receptor 1 gradually decrease its initial intensity and new red shifted absorption bands at 397 nm and 455 nm gradually appear upon addition of increasing amount of F(-) and AcO(-) ions over several tested anions such as H(2)PO(4)(-), Cl(-), Br(-), I(-), NO(3)(-), NO(2)(-), HSO(4)(-), HSO(3)(-), and ClO(4)(-) in aqueous-acetonitrile solvent. The colorimetric test results and UV-vis spectral analysis are in well agreement with (1)H NMR titration results in d(6)-DMSO solvent. The receptor 1 forms 1:2 stable complexes with F(-) and AcO(-) ions. However, similar kind of observation obtained from UV-vis titrations in presence of AcOH corresponds to 1:1 complexation ratio indicating the formation of H-bonding interaction between the receptor and anions (F(-) and AcO(-) ions). So, the observed 1:2 complexation ratio can only be explained on the basis of deprotonation (∼1 eqv.) and H-bonding (∼1 eqv.) interactions [1]. The ratiometric analysis of host-guest complexes corroborates well with the proposed theoretical model optimization at Density Functional Theory (DFT) level.

Proton transfer assisted charge transfer phenomena in photochromic Schiff bases and effect of -NEt2 groups to the anil Schiff bases

Photochromic Schiff bases 5-diethylamino-2-[(4-diethylamino-benzylidene)-hydrazonomethyl]-phenol (DDBHP) and N,N'-bis(4-N,N-diethylaminosalisalidene) hydrazine (DEASH) with both the proton and charge transfer moieties have been synthesized, and their photophysical properties such as excited state intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) and proton transfer (ESIPT) processes have been reported on the basis of steady-state and time-resolved spectral measurement in various solvents. The ground-state six-membered intramolecular hydrogen bonding network at the proton transfer site accelerates the ESIPT process for these compounds. Both the compounds show large Stokes-shifted emission bands for proton transfer and charge transfer processes. The hydrogen bonding solvents play a crucial role in these photophysical processes. Excited-state dipole moment of DDBHP and DEASH calculated by the solvatochromic method supports the polar character of the charge transfer excited state. Introduction of -NEt(2) groups to the reported salicylaldehyde azine (SAA) Schiff base results an increase in fluorescence lifetime from femtosecond to picosecond time scale for the proton transfer process.

Spectroscopic, colorimetric and theoretical investigation of salicylidene hydrazine based reduced Schiff base and its application towards biologically important anions

A reduced Schiff base anionic receptor 1 [N,N'-bis-(2-hydroxy-5-nitro-benzyl)hydrazine] has been synthesized, characterized and reported as a selective chromogenic receptor for fluoride, acetate and phosphate anions over the other tested anions such as chloride, bromide, iodide and hydrogensulphite. Colorimetric naked-eye detection and UV-vis absorption spectroscopic techniques were used to distinguish the recognition behaviours towards various anions. The receptor-anion complexation mainly occurs via hydrogen bonding interactions which facile to generate the charge transfer band in the UV-vis spectra and cause large bathochromic shift as well as naked-eye colour change. Complexation stoichiometry, binding constant and free energy change due to complex formation were determined from Benesi-Hildebrand plot. The binding constant and the free energy change values are well interactive for spontaneous complexation. The experimental results have been correlated with the theoretical calculations using B3LYP hybrid functional and 6-311++G(d,p) basis set for both the receptor and complex by Density Functional Theory (DFT) method.

Photoinduced intramolecular charge transfer phenomena in 5-(4-dimethylamino-phenyl)-penta-2,4-dienoic acid

A donor acceptor substituted aromatic system 5-(4-dimethylamino-phenyl)-penta-2,4-dienoic acid (DMAPPDA) has been synthesized and its spectral properties have been explored on the basis of steady state absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. Spectral features point largely towards a possible occurrence of photoinduced intramolecular charge transfer process from the donor NMe2 group to the acceptor acid group. Solvent dependency of the large Stokes' shifted emission band and the calculated large excited state dipole moment support the polar character of the charge transfer excited state. Quantum yield calculations and effect of addition of acid and base on the steady state spectra were also performed to further scrutinize the excited state CT character.