Design, Synthesis and Applications of Tetraphenylethene - Based Covalent Organic Frameworks

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) as new class of crystalline organic porous materials are assembled by appropriate building blocks through covalent bonds. COFs have been utilized in many fields such as storage and separation of gases, energy storage, catalysis, proton conduction, sensing, optoelectronics and biomedicine due to their regular channels, high stability, high crystallinity and adjustable structure. In recent years, tetraphenylethylene (TPE)-based covalent organic frameworks have attracted much attention due to their obvious aggregation induced luminescence effect, simple synthesis and easy functionalization. In this paper, the construction units, topological structures, synthesis strategies and application progress of TPE-based COFs in different fields are briefly reviewed. Finally, the development and possible challenges of TPE-based COFs are prospected.