On-Surface Synthesis and Applications of 2D Covalent Organic Framework Nanosheets

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

In this review, the authors summarize the most recent results in COF synthesis and some of their most promising applications, such as sensors, charge transfer, and gas separation.

The review summarizes properly in a very comprehensive manner the most relevant results in the COF field. However, the quality of some figures, like figure 4 should be improved, before its acceptance.

Author Response

In this review, the authors summarize the most recent results in COF synthesis and some of their most promising applications, such as sensors, charge transfer, and gas separation. The review summarizes properly in a very comprehensive manner the most relevant results in the COF field. However, the quality of some figures, like figure 4 should be improved, before its acceptance.

Response: We have improved the quality of all the figures and have updated to the revised manuscript.

Reviewer 2 Report

This manuscript provides a review of recent progress in the field of covalent organic frameworks nanosheets (COF nanosheets) with a focus on on-surface synthesis and applications. The introduction provides background on COFs and COF nanosheets and explains the lack of reviews on the substrate-supported synthesis of COF nanosheets.

The manuscript then proceeds to review the history of COF nanosheets, the COF nanosheet synthesis at the gas-solid interface, the COF nanosheet synthesis at the liquid-solid interface, and the applications of COF nanosheets in charge transport, chemical sensors, and gas separation.

Sections of the manuscript describes different methods for the preparation of COF nanosheets, which can be broadly classified into top-down and bottom-up approaches. The top-down approach involves exfoliating as-synthesized layered COF bulk into COF nanosheets, mainly through mechanical exfoliation (ME) and liquid phase exfoliation (LPE). The bottom-up approach involves synthesizing porous nanosheets through various coupling reactions on the surface or at various interfaces. The bottom-up method is further divided into on-surface synthesis under high vacuum, vapor-assisted synthesis, and solid-liquid interface synthesis. The manuscript provides a detailed explanation of the on-surface synthesis and vapor-assisted synthesis methods, including the advantages and disadvantages of each method and the specific procedures used in the synthesis. The manuscript also includes figures and diagrams that help to illustrate the concepts discussed

The manuscript is well-organized and presents a thorough overview of the topic. The language is technical, clear and easy to understand.

The figures and diagrams used throughout the manuscript are helpful in illustrating the concepts discussed. However, the quality of some figures are not publishable quality.

Overall, this manuscript is a valuable resource for those interested in the field of COF nanosheets.

Author Response

This manuscript provides a review of recent progress in the field of covalent organic frameworks nanosheets (COF nanosheets) with a focus on on-surface synthesis and applications. The introduction provides background on COFs and COF nanosheets and explains the lack of reviews on the substrate-supported synthesis of COF nanosheets.

The manuscript then proceeds to review the history of COF nanosheets, the COF nanosheet synthesis at the gas-solid interface, the COF nanosheet synthesis at the liquid-solid interface, and the applications of COF nanosheets in charge transport, chemical sensors, and gas separation.

Sections of the manuscript describes different methods for the preparation of COF nanosheets, which can be broadly classified into top-down and bottom-up approaches. The top-down approach involves exfoliating as-synthesized layered COF bulk into COF nanosheets, mainly through mechanical exfoliation (ME) and liquid phase exfoliation (LPE). The bottom-up approach involves synthesizing porous nanosheets through various coupling reactions on the surface or at various interfaces. The bottom-up method is further divided into on-surface synthesis under high vacuum, vapor-assisted synthesis, and solid-liquid interface synthesis. The manuscript provides a detailed explanation of the on-surface synthesis and vapor-assisted synthesis methods, including the advantages and disadvantages of each method and the specific procedures used in the synthesis. The manuscript also includes figures and diagrams that help to illustrate the concepts discussed

The manuscript is well-organized and presents a thorough overview of the topic. The language is technical, clear and easy to understand.

The figures and diagrams used throughout the manuscript are helpful in illustrating the concepts discussed. However, the quality of some figures are not publishable quality.

Overall, this manuscript is a valuable resource for those interested in the field of COF nanosheets.

Response: We thank the reviewer for the positive recommends. And the quality of all the figures have been improved in the revised manuscript.

Reviewer 3 Report

The minireview has summarized the progress of the application of COF nanosheets. The manuscript might be suitable for the journal Electronic Materials with a major revision.

1. Introduction section: page 2: rather than section-wise detailing we need a generalized reason why this review is important.

2. If the author mentioned Sections 1, 2… etc. then please make it “Section 2. The history of nanosheet” instead of “2. History of nanosheets”.

3. The first MOF was certainly made by Yaghi et al. but there are two corresponding authors in that paper. People shouldn’t forget “Adrien P. Côté”.

4. All figures are of very poor quality. Specially chemdraws. Please submit a better image for better visualization.

5. Page 3:  It was not Grill et al. who made the COF assembly of molecular building blocks but Grill and Hecht et al. author should check the other references as well.

6. Before using shot forms like Br-TPP, please write the full name once for better understanding.

7. I wish there is a section for pore design and regulation for COFs. Specially pore size engineering is a very important step for separation.

 

Overall, the manuscript is certainly suitable for Electronic Materials after proper formatting, minor issues, and better-quality figures. 

Author Response

The minireview has summarized the progress of the application of COF nanosheets. The manuscript might be suitable for the journal Electronic Materials with a major revision.

1. Introduction section: page 2: rather than section-wise detailing we need a generalized reason why this review is important.

Response: Change has been made, and we have illustrated the importance of this review on page 1: “the COFs have shown wide  applications in many emerging fields because of its property, and reviews on the substrate-supported synthesis of COF nanosheets are still rare.”

2. If the author mentioned Sections 1, 2… etc. then please make it “Section 2. The history of nanosheet” instead of “2. History of nanosheets”.

Response: Changes have been made.

3. The first MOF was certainly made by Yaghi et al. but there are two corresponding authors in that paper. People shouldn’t forget “Adrien P. Côté”.

Response: We have also mentioned “Adrien P. Côté” on page 2 of the revised manuscript.

4. All figures are of very poor quality. Specially chemdraws. Please submit a better image for better visualization.

Response: We have improved the quality of all the figures and updated to the revised manuscript.

5. Page 3: It was not Grill et al. who made the COF assembly of molecular building blocks but Grill and Hecht et al. author should check the other references as well.

Response: Change has been made on page 4.

6. Before using shot forms like Br-TPP, please write the full name once for better understanding.

Response: We have added the full name behind all the short forms, including Br-TPP (5-(4-Bromophenyl)-10,15,20-tri(phenyl)porphyrin).

7. I wish there is a section for pore design and regulation for COFs. Specially pore size engineering is a very important step for separation. Overall, the manuscript is certainly suitable for Electronic Materials after proper formatting, minor issues, and better-quality figures.

Response: We have added a paragraph on page 2 of the revised manuscript to inllustrate the pore design and regulation in COFs