Tuning the lattice parameters and porosity of 2D imine covalent organic frameworks by chemically integrating 4-aminobenzaldehyde as a bifunctional linker.

As the available building blocks are limited, improving the structural complexity of covalent organic frameworks (COFs) is still challenging. In this work, a new three-component COF synthesis strategy is established by using 4-aminobenzaldehyde as the bifunctional linker. The lattice parameters, crystallinity, and porosity of these COFs can be efficiently tuned by varying the amount of this linker. This work provides a new way to expand the structural diversity and complexity of imine-linked COFs.