Accessing photocatalytically active covalent triazine-based frameworks by ball milling: a fast and facile synthesis method

Abstract

Covalent Triazine-based Frameworks (CTFs) find use in a wide range of applications from gas storage to catalysis, including photocatalytic applications. While this versatility renders them a highly interesting material class, most of their synthetic protocols require either long polymerization times, high temperatures, toxic reagents, large amounts of organic solvents, or a combination of these, making current synthesis methods less attractive with regard to the green chemistry principles. We herein present a fast and facile ball milling synthesis route towards highly functionalized CTFs addressing the drawbacks of existing synthesis approaches. As a result, polymeric triazine-based structures were received within 40 min of milling time without the need for toxic chemicals or inert gas conditions. High CTF yields of more than 80% were achieved after 5 h utilizing vibrational ball milling. The sustainability of the synthesis was further improved by adjusting the salt addition to cost-effective and harmless salts. Using a photocatalytic model reaction, potential structural motives and their impact on the photocatalytic performance were elucidated.