Multipurpose carbon-based crystalline covalent organic frameworks: from gas storage and sequestration to flexible electronics

The research project aims the development of a new type of multi-purpose porous material that will meet the requirements for industrial carbon capture (i.e. trapping CO2 at its emission source), the sequestration of common pollutants (e.g. CH4, chloroflourocarbons) and the storage of gaseous fuels (e.g. H2); and therefore, address some of the most pressing materials engineering challenges of the 21st century. The specific aims of the proposed research programme are: 1) establishing a methodology for the preparation of highly crystalline, chemically stable and processable (thus industrially applicable) COFs based on single carbon-carbon bonds (CC-COF), 2) demonstrating the utility of prepared CC-COFs in the management (storage, sequestration and separation) of gases, and 3) exploring further applications in the areas of sustainable molecular electronics and environmentally benign catalysis.
The project is strongly aligned with three EPSRC Grand Challenges in chemical sciences and engineering (efficient synthesis, assembly of extended structures and the utilisation of carbon dioxide in transforming the chemicals industry) and covers several research EPSRC Physical Sciences themes, namely carbon capture and storage, synthetic organic chemistry and synthetic supramolecular chemistry.
The EPSRC-funded student will participate in the synthesis of the COF precursors, their structural/physicochemical characterisation and in gas sorption studies.