At TU Dresden, a team led by Dr. Florian Auras has succeeded in developing a new type of two-dimensional polymer whose properties can be controlled in a targeted and reversible manner - a major step towards switchable quantum states.
At TU Dresden, a team led by Dr Florian Auras has succeeded in developing a new type of two-dimensional polymer whose properties can be controlled in a targeted and reversible manner. It is a significant step towards switchable quantum states.
The porous, covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are highly structured, porous materials made of organic molecules that are linked by covalent bonds to form a network and, thanks to this structure, enable the creation of functional materials with molecular precision. According to the research team, promising structural, optical and electronic features can be grown that could enable numerous applications in the future, such as gas and liquid storage, catalysis, sensor technology and energy applications.
Previous work on COFs has focused on the generation of rigid frameworks with correspondingly static material properties. The Dresden team has now succeeded for the first time in developing a design strategy for dynamic two-dimensional COFs that can open and close their pores gradually and in a controlled manner, similar to a bath sponge. With the right degree of material flexibility, created by adding a solvent that penetrates the network, the researchers were able to reversibly change the local geometry and optical properties such as fluorescence or color.
According to Dr. Auras, the ability to switch the optoelectronic and structural properties of the material in a targeted manner makes the materials particularly interesting for future applications in electronics and information technology. The team's research results form the basis for further research into switchable polymers with the aim of realizing switchable quantum states.
Dr. Auras' results were published in 'Nature chemistry' on May 3, 2024.
References
Auras, F., Ascherl, L., Bon, V. et al. Dynamic two-dimensional covalent organic frameworks. Nat. chem. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41557-024-01527-8 (accessed: 03.07.2024).
