Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are a promising class
of crystalline
polymer networks that are useful due to their high porosity, versatile
functionality, and tunable architecture. Conventional solution-based
methods of producing COFs are marred by slow reactions that produce
powders that are difficult to process into adaptable form factors
for functional applications, and there is a need for facile and fast
synthesis techniques for making crystalline and ordered covalent organic
framework (COF) thin films. In this work, we report a chemical vapor
deposition (CVD) approach utilizing co-evaporation of two monomers
onto a heated substrate to produce highly crystalline, defect-free
COF films and coatings with hydrazone, imine, and ketoenamine COF
linkages. This all-in-one synthesis technique produces highly crystalline,
40 nm–1 μm-thick COF films on Si/SiO2 substrates
in less than 30 min. Crystallinity and alignment were proven by using
a combination of grazing-incidence wide-angle X-ray scattering (GIWAXS)
and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and successful conversion
of the monomers to produce the target COF was supported by Raman spectroscopy,
X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and UV–vis measurements.
Additionally, we used atomic force microscopy (AFM) to investigate
the growth mechanisms of these films, showing the coalescence of triangular
crystallites into a smooth film. To show the wide applicability and
scope of the CVD process, we also prepared crystalline ordered COF
films with imine and ketoenamine linkages. These films show potential
as high-quality size exclusion membranes, catalytic platforms, and
organic transistors.