Covalent Triazine Frameworks and Porous Carbons: Perspective from an Azulene‐Based Case. Issue 20 (24th June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jiang, Kaiyue; Peng, Peipei; Tranca, Diana; Tong, Gangsheng; Ke, Changchun; Lu, Chenbao; Hu, Jun; Liang, Haiwei; Li, Jiantong; Zhou, Shengqiang; Kymakis, Emmanuel; Zhuang, Xiaodong
• Is Part Of: Macromolecular rapid communications. Volume 43:Issue 20(2022)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2022-06-24
• Subjects: azulene -- covalent triazine frameworks -- energy storage and conversion -- porous carbon -- structure de‐conformation; Macromolecules -- Periodicals; Polymers -- Periodicals; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 547.705
• DOI: 10.1002/marc.202200392
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1022-1336

Abstract

Abstract: Covalent triazine frameworks (CTFs) are among the most valuable frameworks owing to many fantastic properties. However, molten salt‐involved preparation of CTFs at 400–600 °C causes debate on whether CTFs represent organic frameworks or carbon. Herein, new CTFs based on the 1, 3‐dicyanoazulene monomer (CTF‐Azs) are synthesized using molten ZnCl2 at 400–600 °C. Chemical structure analysis reveals that the CTF‐Az prepared at low temperature (400 °C) exhibits polymeric features, whereas those prepared at high temperatures (600 °C) exhibit typical carbon features. Even after being treated at even higher temperatures, the CTF‐Azs retain their rich porosity, but the polymeric features vanish. Although structural de‐conformation is a widely accepted outcome in polymer‐to‐carbon rearrangement processes, the study evaluates such processes in the context of CTF systems. A proof‐of‐concept study is performed, observing that the as‐synthesized CTF‐Azs exhibit promising performance as cathodes for Li‐ and K‐ion batteries. Moreover, the as‐prepared NPCs exhibit excellent catalytic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) performance; hence, they can be used as air cathodes in Zn‐air batteries. This study not only provides new building blocks for novel CTFs with controllable polymer/carbon features but also offers insights into the formation and structure transformation history of CTFs during thermal treatment. Abstract : Azulene‐based covalent triazine frameworks (CTFs) and corresponding porous carbons are rationally synthesized for understanding the ionothermal process. Indicating by electron spin resonance, widely used high temperature of 600 °C during the ionothermal processes can cause obvious carbonization, while the low temperature of 400 °C guarantees the intrinsic polymeric feature of CTFs.