Transformation of tetra(4-cyanophenyl)ethylene under Lewis acidic (ZnCl2) conditions at 400 °C leads to the formation of a porous covalent triazine-based organic framework (CTF) with a high surface area (2235 m(2) g(-1)), high CO2 and CH4 uptakes and the highest hydrogen uptake for a CTF material (1.86 wt% at 77 K, 1 bar).