Publication date: 11th July 2022
Two-dimensional conjugated metal-organic frameworks (2D c-MOFs) are a promising new class of electrically conducting, porous materials. However, the limited number of known aromatic building blocks and lack of structural diversity still limits understanding of structure-property relationships and charge transport mechanisms. Herein, the synthesis of a 2D c-MOF based on the new ligand 2,3,6,7,11,12,15,16 - octahydroxyphenanthro[9,10:b]triphenylene (OHPTP) with copper is reported. This is the first example of a 2D c-MOF with a rhombohedral pore geometry. Optimization of crystal growth methods yields µm large crystals that allow an exact structure determination via electron diffraction and the study of intrinsic charge transport properties by single crystal measurements. The conductivity of 0.1 Scm-1 and a charge carrier mobility of 35 cm2V-1s-1 are among the highest for semiquinone based frameworks. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations underline the predominant role of out-of-plane charge transport in semiquinone based 2D c-MOFs.