Ordered carbonaceous frameworks: a new class of carbon materials with molecular-level design.

Ordered carbonaceous frameworks (OCFs) are a new class of carbon materials with a three-dimensional ordered structure synthesized by simple carbonization of metalloporphyrin crystals with polymerizable moieties. Carbonization via solid-state polymerization results in the formation of graphene-based ordered frameworks in which regularly aligned single-atomic metals are embedded. These unique structural features afford molecular-level designability like organic-based frameworks together with high electrical conductivity, thermal/chemical stability, and mechanical flexibility, towards a variety of applications including electrocatalysis and force-driven phase transition. This feature article summarizes the synthetic strategies and characteristics of OCFs in comparison with conventional organic-based frameworks and porous carbons, to discuss the potential applications and further development of the OCF family.