Dithiine linkage formation via a dynamic and self-correcting nucleophilic aromatic substitution reaction enables the de novo synthesis of a porous thianthrene-based two-dimensional covalent organic framework (COF). For the first time, this organo-sulfur moiety is integrated as a structural building block into a crystalline layered COF. The structure of the new material deviates from the typical planar interlayer π-stacking of the COF to form undulated layers caused by bending along the C–S–C bridge, without loss of aromaticity and crystallinity of the overall COF structure. Comprehensive experimental and theoretical investigations of the COF and a model compound, featuring the thianthrene moiety, suggest partial delocalization of sulfur lone pair electrons over the aromatic backbone of the COF decreasing the band gap and promoting redox activity. Postsynthetic sulfurization allows for direct covalent attachment of polysulfides to the carbon backbone of the framework to afford a molecular-designed cathode material for lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries with a minimized polysulfide shuttle. The fabricated coin cell delivers nearly 77% of the initial capacity even after 500 charge–discharge cycles at 500 mA/g current density. This novel sulfur linkage in COF chemistry is an ideal structural motif for designing model materials for studying advanced electrode materials for Li–S batteries on a molecular level.

The chelating ability of quinoxaline cores and the redox activity of organosulfide bridges in layered covalent organic frameworks (COFs) offer dual active sites for reversible lithium (Li)‐storage. The designed COFs combining these properties feature disulfide and polysulfide‐bridged networks showcasing an intriguing Li‐storage mechanism, which can be considered as a lithium–organosulfide (Li–OrS) battery. The experimental–computational elucidation of three quinoxaline COFs containing systematically enhanced sulfur atoms in sulfide bridging demonstrates fast kinetics during Li interactions with the quinoxaline core. Meanwhile, bilateral covalent bonding of sulfide bridges to the quinoxaline core enables a redox‐mediated reversible cleavage of the sulfursulfur bond and the formation of covalently anchored lithium–sulfide chains or clusters during Li‐interactions, accompanied by a marked reduction of Li–polysulfide (Li–PS) dissolution into the electrolyte, a frequent drawback of lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries. The electrochemical behavior of model compounds mimicking the sulfide linkages of the COFs and operando Raman studies on the framework structure unravels the reversibility of the profound Li‐ion–organosulfide interactions. Thus, integrating redox‐active organic‐framework materials with covalently anchored sulfides enables a stable Li–OrS battery mechanism which shows benefits over a typical Li–S battery.

In the market for next-generation energy storage, lithium-sulfur (LiÀ S) technology is one of the most promising candidates due to its high theoretical specific energy and cost-efficient ubiquitous active materials. In this study, this cell system was combined with a cost-efficient sustainable solvent-free electrode dry-coating process (DRYtraec®). So far, this process has been only feasible with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)-based binders. To increase the sustainability of electrode processing and to decrease the undesired fluorine content of LiÀ S batteries, a renewable, biodegradable, and fluorine-free polypeptide was employed as a binder for solvent-free electrode manufacturing. The yielded sulfur/carbon dry-film cathodes were electrochemically evaluated under lean electrolyte conditions at coin and pouch cell level, using the state-of-the-art 1,2-dimethoxyethane/1,3-dioxolane electrolyte (DME/DOL) as well as the sparingly polysulfide-solvating electrolytes hexylmethylether (HME)/DOL and tetramethylene sulfone/ 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl-2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropyl ether (TMS/ TTE). These results demonstrated that the PTFE binder can be replaced by the biodegradable sericin as the cycle stability and performance of the cathodes was retained.

Recent developments in the field of covalent organic frameworks (COFs) describe the issue of processability. The precise tunability of delamination of such structures to obtain few layered nanosheets by synthetic control has been ventured in this study. Covalent anchoring of a series of linear and branched alkoxy side chains to the backbone of layered covalent organic frameworks was used to achieve this. To support the hypothesis, powder X-ray diffraction studies accompanied by computational modeling revealed that the elongation of side chains increases the interlayer distances of the COFs. This led to a successful study of the solvent-assisted exfoliation by atomic force microscopy techniques to obtain nanosheets with heights less than 2 nm, representing stacks of 4–5 layers. Dispersions of the functionalized COF nanosheets are stable for several hours. Furthermore, the surface properties are drastically changed, rendering the materials hydrophobic, with contact angles reaching up to 142° and complete blockage of the pore space toward water vapor. As a proof of concept, the sheets are processable and could be integrated into separators for lithium-ion batteries.

Porous materials receive a high level of scientific and technological interest due to their applications in various fields such as adsorption, separation and storage, catalysis, ion exchange, nanotechnology, etc. Gas adsorption is a well-established tool for the characterization of the texture of porous solids. Physisorption isotherms are generally expected to be well reproducible for rigid adsorbents, but this is not always the case for nonrigid (flexible) materials. The presence of a metastability region and sensitivity of the activation barriers to the material's texture often influence the isotherms' run. Here, we address the complexity that arises in terms of reproducibility and sample handling for flexible metal−organic frameworks, with the example of . It belongs to the group of "gate opening" metal−organic frameworks and is a typical representative of the pillared layer compounds. We propose characteristic parameters for the analysis and comparison of adsorption isotherms, showing the "gate opening" step, associated with the adsorption-induced solid-state phase transition. A set of 50 nitrogen physisorption isotherms measured at 77 K were analyzed and correlated with the synthetic and outgassing conditions. The study highlights the importance of accurate descriptions and record-keeping of experimental details and their role in the replication of scientific results.