Cooper, A. I.; Bojdys,* M. J. Materials Today 2014, 17, 468–469.

A polymer laboratory might not be your first port-of-call for replacement materials for silicon in sensors and transistors, but polymer chemistry and organic synthesis may have much to offer here: enter the world of modular chemical design of new 2-dimensional materials.

DOI: 10.1016/j.mattod.2014.10.001 [Download]

This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivatives License (CC BY NC ND) in final form at [DOI: 10.1016/j.mattod.2014.10.001].

Algara-Siller, G.; Severin, N.; Chong, S. Y.; Björkman, T.; Palgrave, R. G.; Laybourn, A.; Antonietti, M.; Khimyak, Y. Z.; Krasheninnikov, A. V.; Rabe, J. P.; Kaiser, U.; Cooper,* A. I.; Thomas, A.; Bojdys,* M. J. Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2014, 53, 7450–7455.

Graphitic Carbon Nitride

In their Communication on page 7450 ff., A. I. Cooper, M. J. Bojdys, et al. report crystalline thin films of triazine-based graphitic carbon nitride (TGCN). TGCN is structurally similar to graphite but it is a semiconductor, and the thin films display a direct bandgap between 1.6 and 2.0 eV.

DOI: 10.1002/anie.201482971

Algara-Siller, G.; Severin, N.; Chong, S. Y.; Björkman, T.; Palgrave, R. G.; Laybourn, A.; Antonietti, M.; Khimyak, Y. Z.; Krasheninnikov, A. V.; Rabe, J. P.; Kaiser, U.; Cooper,* A. I.; Thomas, A.; Bojdys,* M. J. Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2014, 53, 7450–7455.

Graphitic carbon nitride has been predicted to be structurally analogous to carbon-only graphite, yet with an inherent bandgap. We have grown, for the first time, macroscopically large crystalline thin films of triazine-based, graphitic carbon nitride (TGCN) using an ionothermal, interfacial reaction starting with the abundant monomer dicyandiamide. The films consist of stacked, two-dimensional (2D) crystals between a few and several hundreds of atomic layers in thickness. Scanning force and transmission electron microscopy show long-range, in-plane order, while optical spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and density functional theory calculations corroborate a direct bandgap between 1.6 and 2.0 eV. Thus TGCN is of interest for electronic devices, such as field-effect transistors and light-emitting diodes.

DOI: 10.1002/anie.201402191

This is the pre-peer reviewed version of the following article: Algara-Siller, G.; Severin, N.; Chong, S. Y.; Björkman, T.; Palgrave, R. G.; Laybourn, A.; Antonietti, M.; Khimyak, Y. Z.; Krasheninnikov, A. V.; Rabe, J. P.; Kaiser, U.; Cooper,* A. I.; Thomas, A.; Bojdys,* M. J. Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2014, 53, 7450–7455, which has been published in final form at [DOI: 10.1002/anie.201402191].

Baumgarten, B.; Bojdys, M. J.; Unterlass,* M. M. Polymer Chemistry 2014, 5, 3771-3776.

Inspired by geological ore formation processes, we apply one-step hydrothermal (HT) polymerization to the toughest existing high-performance polymer, poly(p-phenyl pyromellitimide) (PPPI). We obtain highly-ordered and fully imidized PPPIs as crystalline flakes and flowers on the micrometer scale. In contrast to classical 2-step procedures that require long reaction times and toxic solvents and catalysts, HT polymerization allows for full conversion in only 1 h at 200 °C, in nothing but hot water. Investigation of the crystal growth mechanism via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) suggests that PPPI aggregates form via a dissolution-polymerization-crystallization process, which is uniquely facilitated by the reaction conditions in the HT regime. A conventionally prefabricated polyimide did not recrystallize hydrothermally, indicating that the HT polymerization and crystallization occur simultaneously. The obtained material shows excellent crystallinity and remarkable thermal stability (600 °C under N₂) that stems from a combination of a strong, covalent polymer backbone and interchain hydrogen-bonding.

DOI: 10.1039/c4py00263f

Baumgarten, B.; Bojdys, M. J.; Unterlass,* M. M. Polymer Chemistry 2014, 5, 3771-3776 – Reproduced by permission of The Royal Society of Chemistry

Katekemol, P.; Roeser, J.; Bojdys, M. J.; Weber, J.; Thomas,* A. Chemistry of Materials 2013, 25, 1542–1548.

A novel covalent triazine framework (CTF-0) was prepared by trimerization of 1,3,5-tricyanobenzene in molten ZnCl₂. The monomer/ZnCl₂ ratio, the reaction time, and temperature significantly influence the structure and porosity of such networks. XRD measurements revealed that crystalline frameworks can be formed with surface areas around 500 m² g^-1 and high CO₂ uptakes. Increasing the reaction temperature yielded an amorphous material with an enlarged surface area of 2000 m² g^-1. This material showed good catalytic activity for CO₂ cycloaddition.

DOI: 10.1021/cm303751n [Download]

Reprinted with permission from Katekemol, P.; Roeser, J.; Bojdys, M. J.; Weber, J.; Thomas,* A. Chemistry of Materials 2013, 25, 1542–1548. Copyright 2013 American Chemical Society.

Bojdys,* M. J.; Severin, N.; Rabe, J. P.; Cooper, A. I.; Thomas, A.; Antonietti, M. Macromolecular Rapid Communications 2013, 34, 850−854.

The carbon nitride PTI/Br is a layered, graphitic material of 2D covalently bonded molecular sheets with an exceptionally large gallery height of 3.52 Å due to the intercalated bromide anions. The material can be cleaved both mechanically and chemically into thin sheets and scrolls analogous to the carbon-only systems graphite and graphene.

DOI: 10.1002/marc.201300086 [Download]

This is the pre-peer reviewed version of the following article: Bojdys,* M. J.; Severin, N.; Rabe, J. P.; Cooper, A. I.; Thomas, A.; Antonietti, M. Macromolecular Rapid Communications 2013, 34, 850−854, which has been published in final form at [DOI: 10.1002/marc.201300086].

Veith,* G. M.; Baggetto, L.; Adamczyk, L. A.; Guo, B.; Brown, S. S.; Sun, X.-G.; Albert, A. A.; Humble, J. R.; Barnes, C. E.; Bojdys, M. J.; Dai, S.; Dudney, N. J. Chemistry of Materials 2013, 25, 503-508.

Lithiated graphitic carbon nitride (C₃N₄) was fabricated by electrochemical and solid-state reactions. The addition of Li to C₃N₄ results in a reaction between the Li and the graphite like C₃N species in C₃N₄. This irreversible reaction leads to the formation of Li-CH=NR and Li-N=CR₂ species which are detrimental to anode properties. Suitable nitrogen doped carbon structures for anode applications are shown to need high concentrations of pyridinic C-N-C terminal bonds and low concentrations of quaternary C₃N species to boost electronic conductivity and reversibly cycle Li-ions.

DOI: 10.1021/cm303870x [Download]

Reprinted with permission from Veith, G. M.; Baggetto, L.; Adamczyk, L. A.; Guo, B.; Brown, S. S.; Sun, X.-G.; Albert, A. A.; Humble, J. R.; Barnes, C. E.; Bojdys, M. J.; Dai, S.; Dudney, N. J. Chemistry of Materials 2013, 25, 503-508. Copyright 2013 American Chemical Society.

Chong, S. Y.; Jones, J. T. A.; Khimyak, Y. Z.; Cooper, A. I.; Thomas, A.; Antonietti, M.; Bojdys,* M. J. Journal of Materials Chemistry A 2013, 1, 1102-1107.

Poly(triazine imide) (PTI) – a 2D, layered graphitic carbon nitride network – was obtained as an intercalation compound with bromide (PTI/Br) and fluoride (PTI/F). The gallery height varies with the diameter of the intercalated anion: small guests are situated in the large voids in the C, N plane, while larger guests protrude into the inter-layer space.

DOI: 10.1039/C2TA01068B [Download]

Chong, S. Y.; Jones, J. T. A.; Khimyak, Y. Z.; Cooper, A. I.; Thomas, A.; Antonietti, M.; Bojdys, M. J. Journal of Materials Chemistry A 2013, 1, 1102-1107 – Reproduced by permission of The Royal Society of Chemistry

Bojdys, M. J.; Hasell, T.; Severin, N.; Jelfs, K. E.; Rabe, J. P.; Cooper,* A. I. Chemical Communications 2012, 48, 11948-11950.

The characterisation of porous crystalline solids often relies on single crystal X-ray diffraction, which does not give direct information about the surface of the material. Here, crystals of a porous organic cage, CC3–R, are investigated by atomic force microscopy and shown to possess two distinct gas-solid interfaces, proving that the bulk crystal structure is preserved at the porous crystal surface.

DOI: 10.1039/C2CC36602A

Bojdys, M. J.; Hasell, T.; Severin, N.; Jelfs, K. E.; Rabe, J. P.; Cooper, A. I. Chemical Communications 2012, 48, 11948-11950 – Reproduced by permission of The Royal Society of Chemistry

Ren, S.; Bojdys, M. J.; Dawson, R.; Laybourn, A.; Khimyak, Y. Z.; Adams, D. J.; Cooper,* A. I. Advanced Materials 2012, 24, 2357-2361.

Porous, fluorescent, covalent triazine-based frameworks (CTFs) are obtained in an unprecedentedly mild reaction, opening up a scalable pathway for molecular building blocks previously thought incompatible with this chemistry. Choice of monomers and synthetic conditions determines the optical properties and nano-scale ordering of these highly microporous materials with BET surface areas exceeding 1100 m² g^-1 and exceptional CO₂ capacities (up to 4.17 mmol g^-1).

DOI: 10.1002/adma.201200751 [Download]

This is the pre-peer reviewed version of the following article: Ren, S.; Bojdys, M. J.; Dawson, R.; Laybourn, A.; Khimyak, Y. Z.; Adams, D. J.; Cooper, A. I. Advanced Materials 2012, 24, 2357-2361, which has been published in final form at [DOI: 10.1002/adma.201200751].