About this Research Topic

Background

The past few decades have witnessed the explosive progress in porous crystalline network materials, such as metal-organic frameworks, covalent organic frameworks, metal-organic cages, and porous organic cages. Their unique topological structures and tailor-made porosity allow the integration of a wide range of properties, including electrical conductivity, ion conductivity, redox activity, catalytic reactivity, chemical storage and sieving, photoemission, and more. Consequently, this opens up a plethora of new opportunities for applications in the field of energy, catalysis, and separation. Given the escalating threat of climate change to human society, there is an urgent global need for sustainable technologies. This collection specifically focuses on the vital connection between fundamental research on porous crystalline networks and real-world challenges. It delves into the potential of these materials to enable emerging sustainable technologies, elucidates the desired properties and functions for specific applications, and explores the design, synthesis, processing, and characterization of these materials. By harnessing the unique opportunities presented by porous crystalline materials, the goal is to address pressing environmental concerns and drive advancements in sustainable technologies.

This research topic aims to bridge the gap between fundamental research and practical applications in the dynamic field of porous crystalline networks. In light of the pressing climate crisis, our objective is to establish a connection to real-world problems by exploring how researchers can design porous crystalline network materials to facilitate emerging sustainable technologies encompassing energy, catalysis, and separation. To achieve this, we propose an approach akin to the concept of “retrosynthesis of small molecules” but applied more broadly. The process involves several key steps: First, we seek to understand the essential properties and functions required for specific applications. Second, we outline designing principles that incorporate molecular design and phase engineering to realize these necessary functions. Third, we propose efficient methodologies for synthesis and processing to acquire the material according to the designed structure. Fourth, we establish reliable characterization methods to confirm the as-synthesized structures and study their properties. Lastly, we test the obtained materials under real conditions relevant to the specific application, making modifications as needed to achieve the desired performance.

We welcome Original Research, Review, Mini Review and Perspective articles on themes including, but not limited to:

• Porous Crystalline Networks (PCN) as solid sorbents or membranes for separation of gases, molecules, ions. This may cover the topic on gas separation, water harvesting, small molecule nanofiltration, toxin removal, metal recovery, etc.

• PCN as ion conductors, including battery separators, polymer electrolytes, solid electrolytes, etc.

• PCN as electrodes for energy storage.

• PCN as catalysts for organocatalysis, electrocatalysis, and photocatalysis.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Editorial
• Mini Review
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Editorial
• Mini Review
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review

Keywords: Crystalline Networks, Sustainability, Structure-Property Relationships, Material Characterization, Phase Engineering

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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