Publication date: 11th July 2022
Nanographenes –polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons that extend over 1 nm– can adopt a broad range of non-planar conformations that challenge the perception of aromatic systems as rigid and flat structures. Such distorted structures are the result of the steric strain induced by overcrowding or congestion in key positions of the aromatic core. Distorted nanographenes have shown enhanced solubility and unique optoelectronic and chiroptical properties as an effect of their distorted molecular structure. Our group has pioneered the introduction of distorted nanographenes in framework materials [1-5]. This merge offers new possibilities in the design monomers with symmetries that deviate from standard graphitic geometries, and in turn, in the design of organic frameworks with unprecedented architectures and properties. The most recent advances of these distorted framework materials including synthetic routes, optoelectronic properties, self-organising properties, and potential applications will be discussed.
This work was carried out with support from the Basque Science Foundation for Science (Ikerbasque), POLYMAT, the University of the Basque Country, Diputación de Guipúzcoa, Gobierno Vasco (BERC programme) and Gobierno de España (Project CEX2020-001067-M financed by MCIN/ AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033). Technical and human support provided by SGIker of UPV/EHU and European funding (ERDF and ESF) is acknowledged. This project has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (Grant Agreement No. 722951). This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 899895.