Direct Construction of 2D Conductive Metal-Organic Frameworks from a Nonplanar Ligand: In Situ Scholl Reaction and Topological Modulation

Two-dimensional conductive metal-organic frameworks (2D c-MOFs) are an emerging class of promising porous materials with high crystallinity, tunable structures, and diverse functions. However, the limited topologies and difficulties in synthesizing suitable organic linkers remain a great challenge for 2D c-MOFs synthesis and applications. Herein, two layered 2D c-MOF polymorphs with either a rhombus structure (sql-TBA-MOF) or kagome structure (kgm-TBA-MOF) were directly constructed via in situ Scholl reaction and coordination chemistry from a flexible and nonplanar tetraphenylbenzene-based ligand (8OH-TPB) in a one-pot manner. Interestingly, the kgm-TBA-MOF comprising hexagonal and triangular dual pores exhibit higher conductivities of 1.65 x 10(-3) S/cm at 298 K and 3.33 x 10(-2) S/cm at 353 K than that of sql-TBA-MOF (4.48 x 10(-4) and 2.90 x 10(-3) S/cm, respectively). Moreover, the morphology and topology can be modulated via the addition of ammonium hydroxide as modulator. The present work provides a new pathway for design, synthesis, and topological regulation of 2D c-MOFs.

Automated summary

In this study, two different layered 2D conductive metal-organic frameworks were constructed using a flexible and nonplanar tetraphenylbenzene-based ligand. The material with a kagome structure exhibited higher conductivity and the morphology and topology could be modulated by the addition of ammonium hydroxide.