Synthesis and nanoscale electrochemistry of two-dimensional covalent organic frameworks (2D-COFs) of metal containing porphyrins

This project will combine nanoscale surface analysis used the MOB group, with electrochemical techniques used in the KBH group. This collaboration provides an opportunity to develop two techniques new to both groups: electrochemical STM (EC-STM) and electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EC-QCM). EC-STM will allow combined electrochemical and molecular resolution structural analysis of porphyrin 2D-COFs. QCM allows surface mass changes of < 1 ng cm-2 to be measured and is being implemented by MOB to study porphyrin 2D-COF growth as part of his EPSRC 1st grant. Combining QCM with electrochemical measurements would provide a technique that can probe both the redox behaviour of porphyrin 2D-COFs but also the binding of different analytes to the central metal atoms of the porphyrin components. The combined use of EC-STM and EC-QCM will allow us to investigate the electrochemical behaviour of these new 2D materials from the molecular level right up to extended thin films on high surface area porous graphene substrate, materials with immense potential as sensors or electro-catalysts.