Molecularly Imprinted Porous Aromatic Frameworks for Molecular Recognition

Abstract

Porous aromatic frameworks (PAFs) are an important class of porous materials that are well-known for their ultralarge surface areas and superb stabilities. Basically, PAF solids are constructed from periodically arranged phenyl fragments connected via C–C bonds (generally), which provide vast accessible surfaces that can be modified with functional groups and intrinsic pathways for rapid mass transfer. Molecular imprinting technology (MIT) is an effective method for producing binding sites with a specific geometry and size that complement a template object. This review focuses on the integration of MIT into PAF structures via state-of-the-art coupling chemistry to expand the application of porous materials in the fields of metal ion extraction (including the nuclear element uranium) and selective catalysis. Additionally, a concise outlook on the rational construction of molecularly imprinted porous aromatic frameworks is discussed in terms of developing next-generation porous materials for broader applications.

A Carbazole-Functionalized Porous Aromatic Framework for Enhancing Volatile Iodine Capture via Lewis Electron Pairing

“…waste stream containing volatile iodine radionuclides [13][14][15][16]. In the past few decades, PAF solids with tunable pore properties including surface area, volume, and size distribution were demonstrated to play important roles for the physical adsorption for guest molecules [17][18][19][20].…”

“…Porous aromatic frameworks (PAFs) composed of covalently bonded light atoms (H, B, C, N, and O), have superb thermal and chemical stability, high surface area, and tunable pore size, which make them ideal candidates for iodine capture from the nuclear waste stream containing volatile iodine radionuclides [ 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ]. In the past few decades, PAF solids with tunable pore properties including surface area, volume, and size distribution were demonstrated to play important roles for the physical adsorption for guest molecules [ 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 ].…”

Amyloid-like assembly converting commercial proteins to water-insoluble adsorbents with ultrahigh adsorption capacity and excellent antifouling property for uranium extraction

“…However, the adsorption rates of these amidoxime-based adsorbents are not highly desirable as they might take several weeks to attain adsorption equilibrium in natural seawater, leading to low extraction efficiency and high economic cost. Very recently, advanced porous materials, including metal/ covalent-organic frameworks [21][22][23][24] and porous aromatic frameworks, [25][26][27] have also been utilized for capturing uranium from seawater. Indeed, their extraction efficiency has been greatly improved, beneting from their abundant porous channels and large specic surface areas.…”

Ionic Porous Aromatic Framework as a Self-Degraded Template for the Synthesis of a Magnetic γ-Fe2O3/WO3·0.5H2O Hybrid Nanostructure with Enhanced Photocatalytic Property

“…Porous aromatic frameworks (PAFs) are emerging functional porous solids, known for their ultra-large surface area (specific surface area > 6000 m 2 g −1 ), tunable local structure, and high thermal/chemical stability [35][36][37][38]. Due to their tailorable and intrinsic porous structures, densely functionalized PAF samples have huge promise for extreme applications [39][40][41][42][43].…”