Growing concerns regarding chemical weapons and toxic chemicals require the development and testing of robust materials and methods to capture and destroy these harmful chemicals. This dissertation discusses the fundamental properties (e.g., structure, stability and activity) of metal oxyhydroxide based 3-dimensional porous materials, such as metal organic frameworks (MOFs), and covalent organic frameworks (COFs), and their applications for gas capture and degradation, especially for toxic gases and chemical warfare agent simulants. We report and verify that the active sites in UiO-67 MOFs are the metal nodes (oxyhydroxides) and developed a paradigm which correlates the activities of the MOFs, the metal oxyhydroxides and their precursors. This new understanding can help researchers choose the optimum metal for the intended applications by avoiding the tedious and time-consuming procedures of MOF synthesis and purification. In addition, to characterize and understand the structures of active sites in UiO-67 MOFs, temperature programmed desorption mass spectrometry (TPD-MS) and in situ Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy were performed under ultra-high vacuum (UHV) and revealed unconventional binding sites and assisted in the successful characterization of missing linker defects. Here, our research helped in identification of a new class of binding sites, via NH-π interactions, in UiO-67 MOFs will assist researchers working in the areas of gas storage/release in developing better materials. This study should facilitate the structural understanding of MOFs, their important attributes such as defects and their chemistry in the presence of toxic gases. After successful identification of active species in MOFs, with the ultimate goal of isolating andii depositing the active sites on porous carbonaceous materials, e.g., COFs, we have engineered a facile technique to synthesize robust nanoparticle-COF and evaluated the reasons for its improved catalytic properties over other materials. The discoveries and their implications discussed in this thesis address fundamental knowledge gaps and should aid the rational design of superior materials for in operando applications. / Chemistry

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In this work, we demonstrate the first synthesis of vinylene-linked 2D CPs, namely, 2D poly(phenylenequinoxalinevinylene)s 2D-PPQV1 and 2D-PPQV2, via the Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons (HWE) reaction of C2-symmetric 1,4-bis(diethylphosphonomethyl)benzene or 4,4′-bis(diethylphosphonomethyl)biphenyl with C3-symmetric 2,3,8,9,14,15-hexa(4-formylphenyl)diquinoxalino[2,3-a:2′,3′-c]phenazine as monomers. Density functional theory (DFT) simulations unveil the crucial role of the initial reversible C−C single bond formation for the synthesis of crystalline 2D CPs. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) studies and nitrogen adsorption-desorption measurements demonstrate the formation of proclaimed crystalline, dual-pore structures with surface areas of up to 440 m2 g−1. More importantly, the optoelectronic properties of the obtained 2D-PPQV1 (Eg=2.2 eV) and 2D-PPQV2 (Eg=2.2 eV) are compared with those of cyano-vinylene-linked 2D-CN-PPQV1 (Eg=2.4 eV) produced by the Knoevenagel reaction and imine-linked 2D COF analog (2D-C=N-PPQV1, Eg=2.3 eV), unambiguously proving the superior conjugation of the vinylene-linked 2D CPs using the HWE reaction.

The Hofstadter butterfly is one of the first and most fascinating examples of the fractal and self-similar quantum nature of free electrons in a lattice pierced by a perpendicular magnetic field. However, the direct experimental verification of this effect on single-layer materials is still missing as very strong and inaccessible magnetic fields are necessary. For this reason, its indirect experimental verification has only been realized in artificial periodic 2D systems, like moiré lattices. The only recently synthesized 2D covalent organic frameworks might circumvent this limitation: Due to their large pore structures, magnetic fields needed to detect most features of the Hofstadter butterfly are indeed accessible with today technology. This work opens the door to make this exotic and theoretical issue from the 70s measurable and might solve the quest for the experimental verification of the Hofstadter butterfly in single-layer materials. Moreover, the intrinsic hierarchy of different pore sizes in 2D covalent organic framework adds additional complexity and beauty to the original butterflies and leads to a direct accessible playground for new physical observations.

La conception de nouveaux matériaux fonctionnels a une longue histoire. Durant les deux dernières décennies, le domaine des polymères organiques et inorganiques a attiré l'attention des chercheurs. Plus important encore, les matériaux poreux tels que les Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs), en anglais, Covalent Organic Frameworks (COFs), en anglais, ainsi que des polymères de coordination poreux sont maintenant étudiés de manière intensive en raison de leurs applications potentielles, comprenant le stockage de gaz, la séparation de gaz, la catalyse et la détection. D'un autre côté, les polymères contenant du Pt ont montré l'application potentielle dans les cellules solaires et les diodes électroluminescentes. Le mémoire est divisé en trois sections principales présentant des résultats nouveaux. Dans la première section, le chapitre 2 traite essentiellement de la formation de polymères de coordination (CP) avec des sels CuX (X = Cl, Br, I) et trans-[p-MeSC6H4C≡C-Pt(PMe3)2-C≡CC6H4SMe] (L1), soit dans le PrCN ou PhCN. Les polymères résultants sont soit 2D (bidimensionel) ou 1D (unidimensionel). Cependant, en presence de PrCN ou de PhCN, le CP 2D obtenu avec le CuBr n'a pas incorporé de solvant dans ses espaces vides. D'autre part, le CP 2D et le reste des CP 1D obtenus avaient soit des molécules de solvant de cristallisation dans leurs cavités ou coordonnés au cuivre sur la chaîne. Les unités cuivre-halogénures étaient soit des rhomboïdes Cu2X2 ou le cubane Cu4I4. Leurs mesures photophysiques en présence et en l'absence de molécules de solvant de cristallisation ont été effectuées. En outre, la porosité du CP a été évaluée par BET (N2 à 77 K). Le vapochromisme du CP 2D sans solvant et des CP 1D ont été étudiés, ainsi que les mesures de sorption du CO2 ont été effectuées. De plus, nous avons utilisé CuCN et L1 dans MeCN pour former de nouveaux CP’s. Ceci est rapporté dans la deuxième section, le chapitre 3. Le CP obtenu était inattendu : L1 s’est rompu et du cyanure CN‾ s’est coordonné sur le Pt. Ceci a conduit à la formation d’un CP 1D zigzag. Généralement, les CP sont formés avec L1 via des liens Cu-S ou/et Cu([éta]2-C≡C), mais pas dans le cas du CuCN qui lui forme une chaîne 1D (CuCN)n où le L1 rompu se lie avec cette chaîne via un lien Cu-N. Les propriétés photophysiques et de stabilité thermique ont été étudiées. La troisième section (Chapitre 4) traite d'une exploration des CP formés par la reaction des sels CuX (X = Cl, Br, I) et le trans-[p-MeSC6H4C≡C-Pt(PMe3)2-C≡CC6H4SMe] (L1) ou le trans-[p-MeSC6H4C≡C-Pt(PEt3)2-C≡CC6H4SMe] (L2) dans du MeCN afin de trouver des tendances. L'utilisation de L1 a donné lieu à un CP 2D ou 1D CPs avec le MeCN piégé à l'intérieur des cavités, il y a de l’espace vide. L2 a conduit uniquement à des CP 1D sans molecules de solvant de cristallisation. Des analyses thermogravimétriques, photophysique et des mesures d’adsorption de gaz (uniquement pour ceux avec du solvant) ont été étudiées. / Abstract: The design of new functional materials has a long history. For the past two decades, the field of organic and inorganic polymers has attracted attention of researchers. More importantly, porous materials such as Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs), Covalent Organic Frameworks (COFs) as well as porous coordination polymers are now being intensively studied due to their potential applications including gas storage, gas separations, catalyst and sensing. On another hand, Pt-containing polymers have shown potential applications in solar cells and light emitting diodes. The masters’ thesis is mainly divided into three main sections presenting new results. In the first section; Chapter 2 mainly discusses the formation of coordination polymers with CuX salts (X= Cl, Br, I) and trans-[p-MeSC6H4C≡C-Pt(PMe3)2-C≡CC6H4SMe] (L1), in either PrCN or PhCN. The resulting polymers obtained were 2D (bidimensional) CPs or 1D (unidimensional) CPs in all cases. However, 2D CPs obtained when CuBr salt is used by either using PrCN or PhCN did not incorporate the solvents in their cavities. On the other hand, the 2D CP and the rest of 1D CPs obtained had either the crystallization molecules in the cavities or coordinated to the copper cluster. The copper-halide clusters were either the rhomboids Cu2X2 fragments or the step cubane Cu4I4. The photophysical measurements in the presence and absence of solvent crystallization molecules were performed. In addition, the porosity of the CPs was evaluated by adsorption isotherms. The vapochromism of the solvent-free 2D and 1D CPs were investigated as well as CO2 sorption measurements were perfomed. Furthermore, we then attempted to use CuCN and L1 in MeCN which is reported in the second section as Chapter 3. The obtained CP was unexpected as L1 broke and a cyanide (CN‾) ion coordinated to the Pt atom leading to the formation of zigzag 1D CP. The coordination bonds Cu-S or/and Cu([eta]2-C≡C) were generally observed with L1, but not in the CuCN case. Instead a 1D chain of (CuCN)n was made and the broken L1 now binds the chain via a Cu-N bond. The photophysical and thermal stability properties were studied. Lastly, the third section, Chapter 4 deals with a potential predictability of CP formation by using CuX salts (X= Cl, Br, I) and either trans-[p-MeSC6H4C≡C-Pt(PMe3)2-C≡CC6H4SMe] (L1) or trans-[p-MeSC6H4C≡C-Pt(PEt3)2-C≡CC6H4SMe] (L2) in MeCN as the solvent. The use of L1 resulted in either 2D or 1D CPs with the MeCN trapped inside of the cavities while L2 resulted in 1D CPs without MeCN being present in their cavities. The thermogravimetric, photophysical as well as gas sorption measurements (only for those with crystalisation molecules) were perfomed.

Two-dimensional covalent organic frameworks (2D COFs) have attracted attention as versatile active materials in many applications. Recent advances have demonstrated the synthesis of monolayer 2D COF via an air–water interface. However, the interfacial 2D polymerization mechanism has been elusive. In this work, we have used a multiscale modeling strategy to study dimethylmethylene-bridged triphenylamine building blocks confined at the air–water interface to form a 2D COF via Schiff-base reaction. A synergy between the computational investigations and experiments allowed the synthesis of a 2D-COF with one of the linkers considered. Our simulations complement the experimental characterization and show the preference of the building blocks to be at the interface with a favorable orientation for the polymerization. The air–water interface is shown to be a key factor to stabilize a flat conformation when a dimer molecule is considered. The structural and electronic properties of the monolayer COFs based on the two monomers are calculated and show a semiconducting nature with direct bandgaps. Our strategy provides a first step toward the in silico polymerization of 2D COFs at air–water interfaces capturing the initial steps of the synthesis up to the prediction of electronic properties of the 2D material.

The interest in two-dimensional conjugated polymers (2D CPs) has increased significantly in recent years. In particular, vinylene-linked 2D CPs with fully in-plane sp2-carbon-conjugated structures, high thermal and chemical stability, have become the focus of attention. Although the Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons (HWE) reaction has been recently demonstrated in synthesizing vinylene-linked 2D CPs, it remains largely unexplored due to the challenge in synthesis. In this work, we reveal the control of crystallinity of 2D CPs during the solvothermal synthesis of 2D-poly(phenylene-quinoxaline-vinylene)s (2D-PPQVs) and 2D-poly(phenylene-vinylene)s through the HWE polycondensation. The employment of fluorinated phosphonates and rigid aldehyde building blocks is demonstrated as crucial factors in enhancing the crystallinity of the obtained 2D CPs. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal the critical role of the fluorinated phosphonate in enhancing the reversibility of the (semi)reversible C−C single bond formation.