The Center for Advanced 2D Networks (CATON)
Abstract
The primary research focus of the proposed Center for Advanced 2D Organic Networks is to leverage the flexibility of directional bonding approaches to design, synthesize, and characterize single-layer two-dimensional (2D) organic polymers with novel optical and electronic properties. We propose to create stable, free-standing, single-monomer-thick 2D crystalline organic polymer nanosheets/covalent organic frameworks (COFs) with designed electronic (conductivity, mobility, charge storage), optical (resonances, nonlinearities), and structural properties and use state-of-the-art techniques to characterize their structural fidelity and optical, electronic, and magnetic properties. The scope of the proposed work requires significant integration of and feedback from team members to achieve synergy among synthesis, theory, microscopy, spectroscopy, and electronic measurements that would be impossible outside of a multidisciplinary university research initiative (MURI) program. 2D organic polymers organize monomers into networks with covalent bonds that have well-defined internal periodicity. Their topology is derived from the directionality of their covalent linkages, which offers a means to organize chemical functionality with atomic precision over long distances. In contrast to the interchain interactions of entangled linear polymers, the mechanical properties and stability of both free-standing 2D polymer sheets and their multilayer assemblies remain untested but should reflect their covalently bonded structure. 2D polymers also typically feature permanent pores of defined size and shape, which provide high specific surface areas and free volumes suitable for postsynthetic functionalization. As such, these emerging materials show great promise for applications in membranes, molecular recognition and sensing, catalysis, optoelectronic devices, and many other settings. However, realizing these opportunities requires advances in the synthetic, characterization, and integration techniques needed to develop robust polymerizations that control the sizes of crystalline domains, minimize defects, enable new linkage chemistries, and allow 2D polymer integration into heterostructures and other hybrid materials. Our MURI team will address the challenges in COF synthesis and characterization by focusing on the following three major research thrusts: (1) exploration of nucleation, bond exchange, and polymerization of 2D COFs to improve their long-range order and morphological form and isolate 2D COFs as single crystals; (2) investigation of new conjugated linkage chemistries, topologies, and doping strategies to impart extensive electronic delocalization and useful optical and electronic properties; and (3) fabrication of new hybrid device heterostructures based on the interfacing of COFs with newly emerging 2D inorganic materials.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jan 06, 2020
- Source ID
- W911NF1510447
Entities
People
- William Dichtel
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- Cornell University
- United States Army