A series of tetrapyrene-fused benzocoronenes was synthesized by a “bottom-up” approach, which offers a facile access to extended polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with concave π-surfaces, cove regions and zig-zag edges.

Herein, we report two novel Anderson-type polyoxometalate (POM) built-in conjugated microporous polymers (CMPs), Bn-Anderson-CMP and Th-Anderson-CMP prepared through Sonogashira–Hagihara cross-coupling of tetrabromo-bifunctionalized Anderson-type POMs and 1,3,5-triethynylbenzene. These two Anderson-CMPs exhibit outstanding heterogeneous photocatalytic activities towards degrading organic dyes in water. Control photocatalysis experiments with different radical scavengers demonstrate that hydrogen peroxide and singlet oxygen are the primary active catalytic species. Moreover, these two CMPs can be easily recycled at least five times without a noticeable decrease in photocatalytic performances.

Two nitrogen-rich porous organic polymers (POPs) were prepared via facile and low-cost Schiff base chemistry with ferrocene (Fc) and melamine/melem as building blocks. Carbonization of these POP precursors results in porous carbon nanohybrids with carbon composites containing crystalline Fe3C/Fe. Characterization based on a variety of techniques demonstrates that the porous carbon nanohybrids feature rich-nitrogen doping, good conductivity and high BET surface area with unique porous structure, endowing them with an excellent catalytic activity toward the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline electrolytes. The catalysts obtained by carbonization at 800 °C (N-Fc-800) exhibit favorable activity with a rather high onset potential and half wave potential of 0.96 and 0.82 V, respectively. Furthermore, a rechargeable zinc-air battery was assembled using the N-Fc-800 as the cathode catalyst. Compared with the commercial Pt/C, the N-Fc-800 based battery displays a considerably high power density of 178 mW cm−2 with a smaller charge–discharge voltage gap of 0.94 V, and holds excellent stability with a less activity decay (1.0%) over long charge–discharge cycles (200 cycles).

We report a facile synthesis of novel angularly fused bistetracene derivatives where two tetracene skeletons are cata-annulated at three benzene rings. Compared with previously described examples, our bistetracenes exhibit a narrower HOMO–LUMO gap but still exhibit high stability. Attempted synthesis of di-substituted bistetracene (BT-2TIPS) also led to unexpected triple (BT-3TIPS) and four-fold (BT-4TIPS) alkylsilylethynyl substitution. The photophysical, electrochemical and optical properties as well as the solid-state structure of these three bistetracene analogues are investigated. A charge carrier mobility up to 0.42 cm2 V−1 s−1 was determined based on field effect transistors.

Triphenylene-based self-assembly modules, bearing three amide groups at the 1-, 5-, and 9-positions, were designed and synthesized. Supramolecular gels could be constructed by combining hydrogen bonding, π–π stacking and van der Waals interactions. In addition, the assembly exhibited liquid crystalline mesophases by tuning of the length of the alkyl chains. This work provides an essential representative of functional assembly based on C3-symmetric triphenylenes.

A series of butadiynylene (BD) based conjugated microporous polymers (CMPs) were facilely synthesized using various aromatic alkyne monomers with different geometries via a Glaser coupling reaction under mild conditions. All these CMPs form gels in situ after self-polycondensation. The chemical structures, morphologies, surface areas, CO2 and CH4 uptake capacities of the freeze-dried gels were thoroughly characterized. All four CMPs have large specific surface areas (up to 1008 m2 g−1), big total pore volumes (up to 1.11 cm3 g−1), high CO2 uptake capacities (up to 3.78 mmol g−1) and high CH4 adsorption capacities (up to 0.95 mmol g−1). Bearing densely incorporated active sites (CC bonds) for the binding of metallic ions (e.g. Li+), excellent porosity, and a conjugated network structure, these BD-CMPs hold great promise for applications in gas adsorption, heavy metal accumulation, heterogeneous catalysis, lithium batteries, etc.

A series of novel solid-state emissive conjugated microporous polymers (CMPs) bearing an inherent aggregation induced emission (AIE) chromophore (i.e. cyanostilbene) was rationally designed and facilely synthesized by Knoevenagel polycondensation. The emission color, porosity, and topological structures were conveniently tuned by choosing different symmetrical monomers with tunable electronic properties. These highly emissive polymers were thoroughly characterized and their photophysical features were investigated by solid fluorescence spectroscopy and transient fluorescence decay spectrum. Our examples indicate a convenient way to produce solid-state emitting porous materials which could exhibit potential applications in lighting, sensing, bioimaging, and photocatalysis etc.

We report a facile synthesis of novel angularly fused bistetracene derivatives where two tetracene skeletons are cata-annulated at three benzene rings. Compared with previously described examples, our bistetracenes exhibit a narrower HOMO–LUMO gap but still exhibit high stability. Attempted synthesis of di-substituted bistetracene (BT-2TIPS) also led to unexpected triple (BT-3TIPS) and four-fold (BT-4TIPS) alkylsilylethynyl substitution. The photophysical, electrochemical and optical properties as well as the solid-state structure of these three bistetracene analogues are investigated. A charge carrier mobility up to 0.42 cm2 V−1 s−1 was determined based on field effect transistors.

A four-fold interpenetrated three dimensional (3D) metal–organic framework, [Cd2(tppe)(bpdc)2(H2O)]·solvent (1), was synthesized with a tetraphenylethene (TPE)-based ligand, 1,1,2,2-tetrakis(4-(pyridin-4-yl)phenyl)ethene (TPPE). This complex exhibits intense blue luminescence and is sensitive to toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

A series of butadiynylene (BD) based conjugated microporous polymers (CMPs) were facilely synthesized using various aromatic alkyne monomers with different geometries via a Glaser coupling reaction under mild conditions. All these CMPs form gels in situ after self-polycondensation. The chemical structures, morphologies, surface areas, CO2 and CH4 uptake capacities of the freeze-dried gels were thoroughly characterized. All four CMPs have large specific surface areas (up to 1008 m2 g−1), big total pore volumes (up to 1.11 cm3 g−1), high CO2 uptake capacities (up to 3.78 mmol g−1) and high CH4 adsorption capacities (up to 0.95 mmol g−1). Bearing densely incorporated active sites (CC bonds) for the binding of metallic ions (e.g. Li+), excellent porosity, and a conjugated network structure, these BD-CMPs hold great promise for applications in gas adsorption, heavy metal accumulation, heterogeneous catalysis, lithium batteries, etc.

A series of tetrapyrene-fused benzocoronenes was synthesized by a “bottom-up” approach, which offers a facile access to extended polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with concave π-surfaces, cove regions and zig-zag edges.

Herein, we report two novel Anderson-type polyoxometalate (POM) built-in conjugated microporous polymers (CMPs), Bn-Anderson-CMP and Th-Anderson-CMP prepared through Sonogashira–Hagihara cross-coupling of tetrabromo-bifunctionalized Anderson-type POMs and 1,3,5-triethynylbenzene. These two Anderson-CMPs exhibit outstanding heterogeneous photocatalytic activities towards degrading organic dyes in water. Control photocatalysis experiments with different radical scavengers demonstrate that hydrogen peroxide and singlet oxygen are the primary active catalytic species. Moreover, these two CMPs can be easily recycled at least five times without a noticeable decrease in photocatalytic performances.