Photochemical Reaction of Covalent Organic Frameworks: Probing the Changes in Surface Area and Topology of the Frameworks

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are a new class of 2-dimensional or 3-dimensional polymers that have rigid and porous structures. COFs are widely applied in gas storage, catalysts, photo conductivity, and drug delivery. Since the applications of COFs are highly related to their structures, it is necessary to learn the stability of COFs under certain conditions. In this research, the stability of COFs towards light was mainly focused on. A new tetraphenyl substituted ketone based COF was synthesized and characterized with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, and powder X-ray diffraction. Infrared spectra proved that this new COF can undergo Norrish type I reaction to release carbon monoxide under UV irradiation, while main structure of this COF was not broken. This thesis will detailly discussed the synthesis and characterization of this new COF, as well as the building blocks, linkers, and other precursors. This thesis will give some inspirations in the study of energy transfer in covalent organic frameworks