Integrating Superwettability within Covalent Organic Frameworks for Functional Coating

Summary

Despite the availability of a variety of skeletons for covalent organic frameworks (COFs), control of pore-surface wettability remains undeveloped, which could immensely expand their overall versatility. Herein, we contribute an effective strategy for imparting superwettability on COFs by chemically coating the pore surface with perfluoroalkyl groups to confer them with superhydrophobicity. Taking advantage of controllable modification, the resultant COFs retain the porosity and crystallinity of the pristine COFs. Benefiting from the bulk superhydrophobicity of the COF crystals and the feasibility of COF synthesis, they can be used as a coat or in situ integrated within various substrates; once applied, this renders them superhydrophobic. Given the modular nature, this protocol is compatible with the development of various specific wettabilities in COFs, which thereby constitutes a step for expanding the scope of COF applications and provides many opportunities for the processing of advanced materials and devices.