Microtubular Self-Assembly of Covalent Organic Frameworks

Despite significant progress in the synthesis of covalent organic frameworks (COFs), reports on the precise construction of template-free nano- and microstructures of such materials have been rare. In the quest for dye-containing porous materials, a novel conjugated framework DPP-TAPP-COF with an enhanced absorption capability up to λ=800 nm has been synthesized by utilizing reversible imine condensations between 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-aminophenyl)porphyrin (TAPP) and a diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) dialdehyde derivative. Surprisingly, the obtained COF exhibited spontaneous aggregation into hollow microtubular assemblies with outer and inner tube diameters of around 300 and 90 nm, respectively. A detailed mechanistic investigation revealed the time-dependent transformation of initial sheet-like agglomerates into the tubular microstructures.