Shaping covalent organic frameworks (COFs) into macroscopic
objects
for practical application remains a huge challenge. Herein, a new
thiadiazole-derived COF macroscopic ultralight aerogel (NNS-VCOF)
was prepared through acid-catalyzed aldol condensation between 2,5-dimethyl-1,3,4-thiadiazole
and a tritopic aromatic aldehyde derivative. NNS-VCOF aerogel shows
extremely low density (ca. 0.020 g cm–3), excellent mechanical properties (compression modulus of 16.65
kPa), thermal insulation properties (low thermal conductivity of 0.03270
W m–1 K–1 at 25 °C), and
flame retardancy (quickly self-extinguishing after ignition) due to
its three-dimensional sponge-like architecture and special nitrogen
heterocyclic framework. To our delight, NNS-VCOF aerogel not only
can be used as an outstanding macroscopic material but also shows
efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution properties in a powder
state because of the superhydrophilicity and appropriate optical properties.