Turn-off luminescence sensing, white light emission and magnetic studies of two-dimensional lanthanide MOFs

The lanthanide metal organic framework compounds [Ln(BPTA)1.5(Bpy)]·0.5DMF (Ln = Y, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy; 1a-5a) and [Ln(BPTA)1.5(Phen)]·0.5DMF (Ln = Y, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy; 1b-5b) were prepared by employing 2,5-bis(prop-2-yn-1-yloxy)terephthalic acid (2,5-BPTA) as the primary ligand and 2,2'-bipyridine (1a-5a) and 1,10-phenanthroline (1b-5b) as the secondary ligands. Single-crystal structural studies on [Gd(BPTA)1.5(Bpy)]·0.5DMF (3a) and [Dy(BPTA)1.5(Phen)]·0.5DMF (5b) indicated that the compounds have a two-dimensional structure. The Y compound exhibits blue emission, and the other compounds exhibit emission in the expected regions (λex = 350 nm). White light emission was achieved by careful mixing of the red (Eu3+) and green (Tb3+) components in the blue emitting Y compound. Thus, Y0.96Tb0.02Eu0.02 (bpy) and Y0.939Tb0.06Eu0.001 (phen) were found to show white emission when excited using a wavelength of 350 nm. The introduction of N-N-containing ancillary ligands (i.e., bpy and phen) increased the overall quantum yield (QY) of white light emission to 31% and 43%, respectively. The high QY observed for the Tb and Eu compounds was found to be sensitive and selective for the fluorometric detection of azinphos-methyl pesticide and trinitrophenol (TNP) in an aqueous medium at the ppb level. The same behaviour was observed when utilising the compounds as onsite paper strip sensors. Their magnetic properties were also studied, revealing for the Tb and Dy derivatives slow relaxation of the magnetisation at low temperature. The present study highlights the usefulness of rigid π-conjugated molecules such as 2,2'-bipyridine and 1,10-phenanthroline in enhancing the many utilities of rare-earth-containing MOFs towards white light emission, the sensing of harmful and dangerous substances and magnetic properties.

Single-phase white light material and antibiotic detection of lanthanide metal-organic frameworks

WLEDs have been widely used in lighting and display equipment due to their energy-saving and environment-friendly advantages, but it is still a great challenge to construct high-quality single-phase white light materials for the preparation of WLEDs. In this work, three Ln-MOFs (HNU-82-84) with the same structure were synthesized by assembling rare earth ions (Tb3+, Eu3+, La3+) and 4,4',4''-nitrilotribenzoic acid (H3TCA) ligands. The structure and optical properties of the three compounds were investigated. Under the ultraviolet lamp, HNU-82-84 displays green light, red light, and blue light emission, respectively. Based on the RGB principle, aiming at the single-phase white material, the proportion of adding rare earth ions is reasonably adjusted to design and synthesize the Ln-MOF (Eu0.015Tb0.037La0.148-TCA) with CIE chromaticity coordinates of (0.319, 0.344). In addition, the WLED was prepared by Eu0.015Tb0.037La0.148-TCA and commercial LED lamps. Furthermore, HNU-82 has strong fluorescence emission and good water stability and can be used to detect nitrofurazone (NZF) and nitrofurantoin (NFT). The concentrations of the aqueous solutions of NZF and NFT had a well correlated linear relationship with the fluorescence quenching effect of HNU-82, and the detection limits were 6.60 × 10-7 mol L-1 and 4.62 × 10-7 mol L-1, respectively. Hence, HNU-82 also has potential as a fluorescent sensor for the detection of NZF and NFT in the aquatic environment.

Why Ligand Doping Increases the Fluorescence of an Anthracene-Based Metal-Organic Framework

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) built from fluorescent ligands frequently exhibit enhanced fluorescence when doped with inert ligands. This study focuses on a MOF of the UiO-68 structure, which is built from a fluorescent dibenzoate-anthracene ligand doped with a dibenzoate-benzene ligand. Our investigation aims to understand the mechanism behind the doping-enhanced emission of this MOF. We rule out several possible mechanisms, including exciton coupling, electron transfer between ligand and metal center, and ligand intersystem crossing induced by the metal center. Inhibition of the interligand charge transfer is considered a possible way to enhance emission. Furthermore, we propose that the conformational change of the anthracene-based ligand in the MOF cavity is also a way for enhancement. Our molecular dynamics simulations of the MOF structure filled with solvents reveal that the steric crowding in the cavity induces a conformational change at different doping levels, affecting the rate of intersystem crossing of the ligand.

Encapsulating Organic Dyes in Metal-Organic Frameworks for Color-Tunable and High-Efficiency White-Light-Emitting Properties

The design of white-light phosphor is highly desirable for practical applications in SSL (solid-state lighting) and its related fields. Dye-loaded metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been widely demonstrated as one type of promising down conversion materials for WLEDs (white-light-emitting diodes), but two issues (dye leakage and inadequate quantum efficiency) require to be addressed before possible applications. Here, a series of single-phase dyes@In-MOF phosphors have been prepared in two different ways: the in-situ process and soaking method. The study of these dyes@In-MOF phosphors confirms the importance of this in-situ process that could effectively increase dye loading and quantum efficiency and greatly decrease dye leakage. As a result, a perfect WLED, fabricated using the in-situ-synthesized (AF/RhB@In-MOF)-3 (AF: Acriflavine; RhB: Rhodamine B) and 450 nm blue LED chip, exhibited a very high quantum yield (QY, up to 42.27%), a high luminous efficacy (LE) of 50.75 lm/W, a high color rendering index (CRI) of 91.2, and nearly identical Commission International ed'Eclairage (CIE) coordinates (0.33,0.31), indicating the potential application of the dye-loaded MOFs with good color quality in smart white LEDs.

Carbazole-Equipped Metal-Organic Framework for Stability, Photocatalysis, and Fluorescence Detection

The useful yet underutilized backfolded design is invoked here for functionalizing porous solids with the versatile carbazole function. Specifically, we attach carbazole groups as backfolded side arms onto the backbone of a linear dicarboxyl linker molecule. The bulky carbazole side arms point away from the carboxyl links and do not disrupt the Zr-carboxyl framework formation; namely, the resultant MOF solid ZrL1 features the same net as that of the unfunctionalized dicarboxyl linker, also known as the PCN-111 net or UiO-66 net. The ZrL1 structure features only half linker occupancy (about 6 out of the 12 linkers around the Zr₆O₈ cluster being missing) and partially collapses upon activation (acetone exchange and evacuation). Notably, the stability improves after heating in diphenyl oxide at 260 °C (POP-260 treatment; to form ZrL1-260), as indicated by the higher crystallinity and surface area of the activated ZrL1-260 sample. The ZrL1-260 samples achieve 72% yield in photocatalyzing reductive dehalogenation of phenacyl bromide; ZrL1 can detect nitro-aromatic compounds via fluorescence quenching, with selectivity and sensitivity toward 4-nitroaniline, featuring a limit of detection of 96 ppb.

Confinement of Luminescent Guests in Metal–Organic Frameworks: Understanding Pathways from Synthesis and Multimodal Characterization to Potential Applications of LG@MOF Systems

This review gives an authoritative, critical, and accessible overview of an emergent class of fluorescent materials termed “LG@MOF”, engineered from the nanoscale confinement of luminescent guests (LG) in a metal–organic framework (MOF) host, realizing a myriad of unconventional materials with fascinating photophysical and photochemical properties. We begin by summarizing the synthetic methodologies and design guidelines for representative LG@MOF systems, where the major types of fluorescent guest encompass organic dyes, metal ions, metal complexes, metal nanoclusters, quantum dots, and hybrid perovskites. Subsequently, we discuss the methods for characterizing the resultant guest–host structures, guest loading, photophysical properties, and review local-scale techniques recently employed to elucidate guest positions. A special emphasis is paid to the pros and cons of the various methods in the context of LG@MOF. In the following section, we provide a brief tutorial on the basic guest–host phenomena, focusing on the excited state events and nanoscale confinement effects underpinning the exceptional behavior of LG@MOF systems. The review finally culminates in the most striking applications of LG@MOF materials, particularly the “turn-on” type fluorochromic chemo- and mechano-sensors, noninvasive thermometry and optical pH sensors, electroluminescence, and innovative security devices. This review offers a comprehensive coverage of general interest to the multidisciplinary materials community to stimulate frontier research in the vibrant sector of light-emitting MOF composite systems.

Pillar-Layer Chiral MOFs as a Crystalline Platform for Circularly Polarized Luminescence and Single-Phase White-Light Emission

The construction of circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) materials with high porosity and high rigidity is still challenging. Herein, we propose a chiral reticular chemistry strategy to prepare the homochiral porous metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as CPL-active materials. Two pairs of enantiomeric MOFs are synthesized through the self-assembly of chiral D/L-cam (DL-camphorates) and achiral fluorescent ligand TPB (1,2,4,5-tetra(pyridin-4-yl)benzene). The g_lum values of Cd-CMOF-D and Cd-CMOF-L were up to 0.010 and 0.009; the high g_lum values could be compared to those of the partially pure multicomponent self-assembly systems obtained by the complicated process. We further trace the generation and transfer of the hierarchical chirality from chiral molecule to 3D framework, demonstrating that the CPL was dominated by the original molecular chirality rather than the global chirality of the hierarchical structure. Moreover, the single-phase white-light materials with nearly ideal CIE coordinates (0.33, 0.33) were constructed through the introduction of dye emitters into Zn-CMOF (Zn-based chiral MOF). This work provided not only an insightful view of the chirality transfer and disappearance mechanism but also an efficient method for the preparation of the highly porous CPL materials.

Encapsulation of Dyes in Luminescent Metal-Organic Frameworks for White Light Emitting Diodes

The development of white light emitting diodes (WLEDs) holds great promise for replacing traditional lighting devices due to high efficiency, low energy consumption and long lifetime. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with a wide range of luminescent behaviors are ideal candidates to produce white light emission in the phosphor-converted WLEDs. Encapsulation of emissive organic dyes is a simple way to obtain luminescent MOFs. In this review, we summarize the recent progress on the design and constructions of dye encapsulated luminescent MOFs phosphors. Different strategies are highlighted where white light emitting phosphors were obtained by combining fluorescent dyes with metal ions and linkers.

Dual-functional porous MOFs with hierarchical guest encapsulation for room-temperature phosphorescence and white-light-emission

The development of optical materials with room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) and white light emission (WLEDs) is highly desirable and remains a challenging task. Herein, a porous metal-organic framework PCN-921 with a high quantum yield (Φ_F = 93.6%) was achieved. To make full use of the advantages of the high porosity of PCN-921, we hierarchically encapsulated different guest molecules coronene and rhodamine B (RhB) into the framework. Unsurprisingly, the hybrid material coronene@PCN-921 was obtained after in situ encapsulation of the guest coronene into the framework, and it exhibits obvious RTP behavior with a long phosphorescence lifetime of 62.5 ns. Subsequently, second guest RhB molecules were introduced after soaking in RhB solution and the material RhB@coronene@PCN-921 was achieved. Interestingly, it exhibits white light emission with the CIE coordinates of (0.29, 0.34), and can be used as a high performance WLED lamp. This is the first work on dual-functional hybrid dyes@MOFs with hierarchical guest encapsulation for RTP and white light emission, which suggests the potential applications of MOFs in multifunctional optical devices.

Dye encapsulation engineering in a tetraphenylethylene-based MOF for tunable white-light emission

The development of efficient and stable white-light emissive materials is highly desirable in displays and solid-state lighting. Here we present a high-quality white-light emitter based a dual-emitting MOF hybrid, which is achieved by dye encapsulation engineering within a robust Zr-MOF (PCN-128W) containing a highly luminescent tetraphenylethylene-based ligand. The pore confinement effect well isolates the incorporated dye molecules (trans-4-[4-(Dimethylamino)styryl]-1-methylpyridinium iodide (DSM)) and therefore suppress the aggregation caused luminescence quenching. The dye emission is mainly sensitized by PCN-128W host through Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET), and the FRET process is incomplete, thus enabling the hybrid to feature dual emissions upon a single excitation. The emission color of DSM@PCN-128W hybrid can be systematically tuned from blue to white, and to orange by regulating the dye encapsulation content. A broad white-light emission with a considerably high quantum yield (21.2%) is obtained in the case of dye contents of 0.15 wt%. The luminescence of DSM@PCN-128W hybrid is stable in ambient air for over 1 month, and show good resistance to continuous UV light irradiation, owing to the protective MOF Matrix that largely inhibits the UV exposure to dye molecules. What's more, by combining DSM@PCN-128W with a commercial UV LED chip, we fabricate a white-light emitting prototype device showing CIE chromaticity coordinates of (0.34, 0.33), a CRI of 79.1, and a CCT of 5525 K.

Confinement-guided photophysics in MOFs, COFs, and cages

In this review, the dependence of the photophysical response of chromophores in the confined environments associated with crystalline scaffolds, such as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), covalent-organic frameworks (COFs), and molecular cages, has been carefully evaluated. Tunability of the framework aperture, cavity microenvironment, and scaffold topology significantly affects emission profiles, quantum yields, or fluorescence lifetimes of confined chromophores. In addition to the role of the host and its effect on the guest, the methods for integration of a chromophore (e.g., as a framework backbone, capping linker, ligand side group, or guest) are discussed. The overall potential of chromophore-integrated frameworks for a wide-range of applications, including artificial biomimetic systems, white-light emitting diodes, photoresponsive devices, and fluorescent sensors with unparalleled spatial resolution are highlighted throughout the review.

Paintable Hybrids with Thermally Stable Dual Emission Composed of Tetraphenylethene-Integrated POSS and MEH-PPV for Heat-Resistant White-Light Luminophores

Thermally stable dual emission followed by white-light luminescence from hybrid materials is reported. Hybrid films were prepared with a spin-coating method with the mixture solution containing tetraphenylethene (TPE)-integrated polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) and poly[2-methoxy-5-(2'-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylene vinylene] (MEH-PPV). TPE-tethered POSS (TPE-POSS) showed high compatibility with MEH-PPV. Therefore, homogeneous films with variable concentrations of TPE-POSS were obtained. Owing to good dispersion of rigid silica cubes into matrices, POSS-containing films demonstrated high thermal stability toward molecular rearrangement by annealing as well as pyrolysis, similar to conventional polymer hybrids. Furthermore, it was found that TPE-POSS was able to enhance emission efficiencies, probably by suppressing chain aggregation. By modulating introduction ratios of TPE-POSS, dual-emission properties followed by white-light luminescence composed of cyan and orange emissions from TPE-POSS and MEH-PPV, respectively, were accomplished. It should be noted that these color balances can be preserved even in the high-temperature region (425 K). Finally, white-light luminescent materials with thermal durability were obtained.

Efficient Regulation of Energy Transfer in a Multicomponent Dye-Loaded MOF for White-Light Emission Tuning

Owing to their rich porosity and structural diversity, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) offer substantial advantages over other emission sources for the precise design and color regulation of white-light phosphors. However, achieving efficient white-light emission remains a considerable challenge. Herein, we report a strategy to achieve tunable and efficient white-light emission by regulating energy transfer in a multicomponent dye-loaded MOF. An anionic MOF NKU-114 featuring appropriate confined spaces is designed as a host to deliberately encapsulate three red-, green-, and blue-emissive dyes with adaptive spectral overlap, DSM, AF, and 9-AA, respectively, yielding the NKU-114@dyes composites. Integrating the suitable spectral overlap and efficient energy transfer between the dyes and the framework produced a white-light emission material containing the multicomponent dyes NKU-114@DSM/AF/9-AA. The obtained material has a broadband white emission with a high quantum yield (up to 42.07%) and nearly identical CIE coordinates of (0.34, 0.32), and the moderate correlated color temperature and color-rendering index value can reach up to 5101 K and 81, respectively, suggesting the potential of the multicomponent dye-loaded MOF for white-light-emitting phosphors with good color quality.

Conductive MOFs with Photophysical Properties: Applications and Thin-Film Fabrication

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are a class of hybrid materials with many promising applications. In recent years, lots of investigations have been oriented toward applications of MOFs in electronic and photoelectronic devices. While many high-quality reviews have focused on synthesis and mechanisms of electrically conductive MOFs, few of them focus on their photophysical properties. Herein, we provide an in-depth review on photoconductive and photoluminescent properties of conductive MOFs together with their corresponding applications in solar cells, luminescent sensing, light emitting, and so forth. For integration of MOFs with practical devices, recent advances in fabrication of photoactive MOF thin films are also summarized.

Ln-CPs constructed from unsymmetrical tetracarboxylic acid ligand: Tunable white-light emission and highly sensitive detection of CrO42-, Cr2O72-, MnO4- in water

A series of isostructural lanthanide coordination polymers (Ln-CPs), [Ln(Hbptc)(H₂O)₄]·H₂O [Ln = Er (1), Pr (2), Dy (3), Sm (4), Gd (5), Nd (6) and Tb(7); H₄bptc = 2,3,3',4'-biphenyl tetracarboxylic acid] have been isolated based on an unsymmetrical tetracarboxylic acid. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that all CPs featured a two dimensional (2D) layer with (6, 6, 6)-connected 6³ topology. Luminescent spectra demonstrate that CPs 1-7 exhibit impressive UV-visible luminescence in the solid state at room temperature. More significantly, a single-component white-light material with International Commission on Illumination (CIE) coordinates of (0.335, 0.334) for 4 (Sm-CP), very closing to the pure white-light of (0.333, 0.333) was obtained by finely tuning of the excitation wavelength. In addition, the luminescent detection for anions of 7 is investigated. Fluorescence measurements show that 7 can detect oxoanion pollutants Cr₂O₇^2-, CrO₄^2-, and MnO₄^- anions in aqueous solutions with high selectivity and sensitivity, which suggests that the Tb-CP is a promising functional luminescence probe for toxic oxoanions. The possible mechanisms of the quenching effect were also discussed in detail.

Two zinc metal-organic framework isomers based on pyrazine tetracarboxylic acid and dipyridinylbenzene for adsorption and separation of CO2 and light hydrocarbons

Two highly porous metal-organic framework isomers Zn₂(TCPP)(DPB) (1 and 2, H₄TCPP = 2,3,5,6-tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)pyrazine and DPB = 1,4-di(pyridin-4-yl)benzene) were successfully synthesized using different solvents and acid species to adjust the topologies of these two MOFs. Both of them were constructed by paddlewheel Zn₂(COO)₄, TCPP^4-, and DPB ligands. In compound 1, the Zn₂(COO)₄ paddlewheel units were fitted together by the TCPP^4- ligands to form two-dimensional layers, which were further connected by DPB ligands as pillars to construct a two-fold catenated 3D framework. In compound 2, the cross-linkage of Zn₂(COO)₄ paddlewheel units and TCPP^4- ligands resulted in a three-dimensional framework of Zn-TCPP, in which DPB ligands coordinated to two axial vertical dinuclear Zn₂(COO)₄. Both activated MOFs exhibited permanent porosity with high BET areas (1324 m² g^-1 for 1 and 1247 m² g^-1 for 2) and possessed narrow pore size distributions (0.93 nm for 1 and 1.02 nm for 2). Moreover, the adsorption behaviors of the two activated MOFs for CO₂ and light hydrocarbons (C1, C2, and C3) at low pressure were evaluated and favorable selectivity was proven for C₃H₈/C₃H₆ over CH₄. These two MOF materials reported in this study for selective CO₂ and light hydrocarbon capture have immense potential applications for environmental protection.

Combining unsaturated metal sites and narrow pores within a Co(ii)-based MOF towards CO2 separation and transformation

Combining unsaturated metal sites and narrow pores within one framework, a unique Co^II-MOF have been prepared, which reveals excellent selective CO₂ uptake over N₂ and CH₄, and good performances in catalytic CO₂ conversion to cyclic carbonates.

White Light from Blue Fluorescence and Sensitized Yellow Long-Afterglow Phosphorescence of o-Terphenyl in Its π-Acid···Base Adduct with Ag3Pz3

White-light emission with CIE (0.32, 0.34) was realized for an o-terphenyl (oTP) molecule in its Ag₃[3,5-(CF₃)₂Pz]₃ (Pz = pyrazolate) sandwiching adduct, originating from the hybrid of fluorescence and sensitized long-afterglow phosphorescence of oTP. Density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT calculations revealed that heavy-atom effects of Ag play a crucial role in sensitization of the triplet of oTP, giving off its ultralong phosphorescence.

A carbazole-functionalized metal–organic framework for efficient detection of antibiotics, pesticides and nitroaromatic compounds

A carbazole-functionalized Cd-MOF exhibits highly selective and sensitive fluorescence detection towards antibiotics, pesticides and nitroaromatic compounds.

Fabrication of a dual-emitting dye-encapsulated metal–organic framework as a stable fluorescent sensor for metal ion detection

The encapsulation of fluorescein dye into porous zinc–adenine metal–organic framework (bio-MOF-1) crystals has been studied for metal cation sensing.