High-Crystallinity Covalent Organic Framework with Dual Fluorescence Emissions and Its Ratiometric Sensing Application

High crystallinity of covalent organic frameworks (COFs) with dual fluorescence emissions has not been reported so far. Here, we show the rational design and preparation of high-crystallinity COF TzDa via the synergetic interaction of docking sites and hydrogen bonds: 4,4′,4″-(1,3,5-Triazine-2,4,6-triyl)trianiline (Tz) with the docking site and 2,5-dihydroxyterephthalaldehyde (Da) with the OH group are employed to synthesize the imine-linked two-dimensional high-crystallinity layered structure TzDa. The prepared mesoporous TzDa (ca. 36 Å) exhibits high thermal and chemical stability. The intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) and excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) effects bring TzDa two main fluorescence emissions around 500 and 590 nm. Water molecules can interfere with the ICT and ESIPT effects, allowing the development of a ratiometric fluorescent sensor for water in organic solvents. The proposed sensor shows high sensitivity to trace water in conventional organic solvents. The high stability of TzDa allows its recyclable uses for trace water detection. This work not only offers a platform for the construction of high-crystallinity COFs, but also provides a rational design of COFs with dual fluorescence emissions for ratiometric sensing applications.