Dual-Function Fluorescent Covalent Organic Frameworks: HCl Sensing and Photocatalytic H2Evolution from Water

Two ultrastable luminescent covalent organic frameworks (COFs), PyTA-BC and PyTA-BC-Ph, are synthesized through polycondensations of 4,4 ',4 '',4 '''-pyrene-1,3,6,8-tetrayl)tetraaniline (PyTA-4NH(2)) with two carbazole-based derivatives having different degrees of conjugation. The PyTA-BC and PyTA-BC-Ph COFs exhibit ultrahigh thermal stabilities (up to 421 degrees C), excellent crystallinity, and high Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface areas (up to 1445 m(2)g(-1)). These COFs display strong fluorescence emissions in various solvents, with their emission maxima gradually red-shifting upon increasing the polarity of the solvent (solvatochromism). Upon exposure to HCl, they respond very rapidly and sensitively in terms of changing their colors and fluorescence emission maxima. In the presence of a sacrificial electron donor, these COFs mediate the highly efficient photocatalytic evolution of H(2)from water. In the absence of a noble metal cocatalyst, the COFs and ascorbic acid provide a photocatalytic H(2)production of up to 1183 mu mol g(-1)h(-1)(lambda >= 420 nm); this value is the highest reported to date for a COF. Such COFs appear to be potentially useful as chemosensors for the naked-eye and sensitive spectroscopic detection of HCl and as cocatalysts for the sustainable photocatalytic production of H(2)from water.