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Boron–Nitrogen-embedded polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (BN-PAHs) as novel π-conjugated systems have attracted immense attention owing to their superior optoelectronic properties. However, constructing long-range ordered supramolecular assemblies based on BN-PAHs remains conspicuously scarce, primarily attributed to the constraints arising from coordinating multiple noncovalent interactions and the intrinsic characteristics of BN-PAHs, which hinder precise control over delicate self-assembly processes. Herein, we achieve the successful formation of BN-PAH-based controllable hierarchical assemblies through synergistically leveraged cation–π and C–H···π interactions. By carefully adjusting the solvent conditions in two progressive assembly hierarchies, the one-dimensional (1D) supramolecular assemblies with "rigid yet flexible" assembled units are first formed by cation–π interactions, and then they can be gradually fused into two-dimensional (2D) structures under specific C–H···π interactions, thus realizing the precise control of the transformation process from BN-PAH-based 1D primary structures to 2D higher-order assemblies. The resulting 2D-BNSA, characterized by enhanced electrical conductivity and ordered 2D layered structure, provides anchoring and dispersion sites for loading two appropriate nanocatalysts, thus facilitating the efficient photocatalytic CO2 reduction (with a remarkable CH4 evolution rate of 938.7 μmol g–1 h–1) and electrocatalytic acetylene semihydrogenation (reaching a Faradaic efficiency for ethylene up to 98.5%).
Zhang et al. (Thu,) studied this question.