New strategies for the synthesis of conductive covalent-organic frameworks

Professor: Phillip Milner

Project Description: Covalent-organic frameworks are a new family of crystalline, porous, polymer materials constructed using reversible covalent bond-forming reactions. However, current materials are limited by the reactions used to construct the framework, namely imine and boronate ester formation. We propose to develop new reversible C-C bond-forming reactions, such as aldol and benzoin reactions, to construct these materials. This will lead to new lightweight porous materials that are highly conductive.