High-performance anthracene-linked covalent triazine frameworks with dual functions for CO2 capture and supercapacitor applications

Abstract

Porous nitrogen-rich materials with high conductivity have enormous potential as electrode materials for supercapacitors. However, the effectiveness of these materials depends on their N content and surface area. To overcome these challenges, by employing an ionothermal reaction at 500 °C and utilizing different molar ratios of ZnCl₂, we successfully synthesized porous covalent triazine frameworks (ANT-CTFs) using 2,3,6,7,9,10-hexacyanoanthracene (ANT-6CN) units. This synthetic approach led to the formation of two distinct microporous materials known as ANT-CTF-10-500 and ANT-CTF-20-500. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and BET tests confirmed that the ANT-CTFs possessed substantial surface areas, falling within the range of 106 to 170 m² g⁻¹. Additionally, these materials exhibited remarkable thermal stability, resulting in char yields of up to 81 wt%. Additionally, ANT-CTF-10-500 exhibited an impressive capacitance of 81.2 F g⁻¹, along with excellent cycle stability (up to 87% capacitance retention). Furthermore, the material showed CO₂ adsorption capabilities, with an uptake of up to 2.14 mmol g⁻¹. The ANT-CTFs offer a competitive option for applications involving CO₂ uptake and electrochemical energy storage.