In situ investigation of surface-supported dynamic covalent twodimensional polymers

 Few consumer goods can rival (one-dimensional) polymers in terms of societal and industrial relevance (around 300 megatons are produced every year). Two-dimensional (2D) polymers, and among them single-layer covalent organic frameworks, are one-molecule thick sheets of a crystalline and robust material endowed of a periodic array of nanopores. By tuning the building-blocks, a wide set of potential applications, ranging from superthin membranes to advanced electronics, open up. Because of this attractive perspective, such functional materials are broadly investigated today. Unfortunately, their synthetic processes are still far from performing as well as for standard polymers. This envisioning project deals with the use of surfaces to template the formation of extended networks of such sophisticated 2D polymers. Scanning Probe Microscopy techniques will be used to scrutinize in situ reaction products so as to get a better understanding of the polymerization process. New synthetic approaches are explored to achieve the next generation of this type of materials, and to conceive customized versions of 2D polymers with a well-defined size and shape. First steps towards the upscaling and interfacing of these systems will be given. These exciting novel 2D polymers, that could outrank graphene, are not only of interest by themselves, but they also nanostructure and functionalize the surfaces they are adsorbed on.