Scalable ambient pressure synthesis of covalent organic frameworks and their colorimetric nanocomposites through dynamic imine exchange reactions

A novel scale-up ambient pressure synthetic strategy for the preparation of imine-based covalent organic frameworks (COFs) was proposed through dynamic imine exchange reaction mechanism. The obtained COFs exhibited good crystallinity and much higher porosity comparable to their solvothermally synthesized counterparts. Moreover, under ambient pressure, the COF nanofibers could readily grow on the surface of polyimide films, and the resulted nanocomposite film showed an interesting colorimetric acid-responsive behavior.