Porous Aromatic Frameworks as a Platform for Multifunctional Applications

[Image: see text] Porous aromatic frameworks (PAFs), which are well-known for their large surface areas, associated porosity, diverse structures, and superb stability, have recently attracted broad interest. Taking advantage of widely available building blocks and various coupling strategies, customized porous architectures can be prepared exclusively through covalent bonding to satisfy necessary requirements. In addition, PAFs are composed of phenyl-ring-derived fragments that are easily modified with desired functional groups with the help of established synthetic chemistry techniques. On the basis of material design and preparative chemistry, this review mainly focuses on recent advances in the structural and chemical characteristics of PAFs for potential utilizations, including molecule storage, gas separation, catalysis, and ion extraction. Additionally, a concise outlook on the rational construction of functional PAFs is discussed in terms of developing next-generation porous materials for broader applications.