ABSTRACT
Dimensionality plays an important role in the charge transport properties of organic semiconductors. Although three-dimensional semiconductors, such as Si, are common in inorganic materials, imparting electrical conductivity to covalent three-dimensional organic polymers is challenging. Now, the synthesis of a three-dimensional π-conjugated porous organic polymer (3D p-POP) using catalyst-free Diels-Alder cycloaddition polymerization followed by acid-promoted aromatization is presented. With a surface area of 801â m2 g-1 , full conjugation throughout the carbon backbone, and an electrical conductivity of 6(2)×10-4 â S cm-1 upon treatment with I2 vapor, the 3D p-POP is the first member of a new class of permanently porous 3D organic semiconductors.
ABSTRACT
Aqueous Zn-Br batteries (ZBBs) offer promising next-generation high-density energy storage for energy storage systems, along with distinctive cost effectiveness particularly in membraneless and flowless (MLFL) form. Unfortunately, they generally suffer from uncontrolled diffusion of corrosive bromine components, which cause serious self-discharge and capacity fade. An MLFL-ZBB is presented that fundamentally tackles the problem of bromine crossover by converting bromine to the polybromide anion using protonated pyridinic nitrogen doped microporous carbon decorated on graphite felt (NGF). The NGF electrodes efficiently capture bromine and polybromide anions at the abundant protonated nitrogen dopant sites within micropores and facilitate effective conversion of bromine into polybromides through electrochemical-chemical growth mechanism. The MLFL-ZBBs with NGF exhibit an extraordinary stability over 1000 charge/discharge cycles, with an energy efficiency over 80%, the highest value ever reported among membraneless Zn-Br batteries. Judicious engineering of an atomistically designed nanostructured electrode offers a novel design platform for low cost, high voltage, long-life cycle aqueous hybrid Zn-Br batteries.
ABSTRACT
Desiccant driven dehumidification for maintaining the proper humidity levels and atmospheric water capture with minimum energy penalty are important aspects in heat pumps, refrigeration, gas and liquid purifications, gas sensing, and clean water production for improved human health and comfort. Water adsorption by using nanoporous materials has emerged as a viable alternative to energy-intensive industrial processes, thus understanding the significance of their porosity, high surface areas, vast pore volumes, chemical and structural features relative to the water adsorption is quite important. In this review article, important features of nanoporous materials are presented, including zeolites, porous carbons, as well as crystalline and amorphous porous organic polymers (POPs) to define the interactions between the water molecules and the polar/non-polar functional groups on the surface of these nanoporous materials. In particular, focus is placed on the recent developments in POPs in the context of water capture as a result of their remarkable stability towards water and wide range of available synthetic routes and building blocks for their synthesis. We also highlighted recent approaches to increase the water sorption capacity of POPs by modifying their structure, morphology, porosity, and chemical functionality while emphasizing their promising future in this emerging area.
ABSTRACT
The synthesis of highly microporous, epoxy-functionalized porous organic polymers (ep-POPs) by a one-pot, catalyst-free Diels-Alder cycloaddition polymerization is reported. The high oxygen content of ep-POPs offer efficient hydrogen-bonding sites for water molecules, thus leading to high water-uptake capacities up to 39.2-42.4â wt % under a wide temperature range of 5-45 °C, which covers the span of climatic conditions and manufacturing applications in which such materials might be used. Importantly, ep-POPs demonstrated regeneration temperatures as low as 55 °C, as well as excellent water stability, recyclability, and high specific surface areas up to 852â m2 g-1 .
