Efficient Ultraviolet Light Detector Based on a Crystalline Viologen-Based Metal-Organic Framework with Rapid Visible Color Change under Irradiation

A convenient colorimetric molecular system constructed by the zinc viologen-carboxylate framework is developed for naked eye detection of instantaneous UV exposure levels. Only narrow-band absorption in UV regions and a unique interpenetrated structure of its colorless crystal enable the system to give a fast response toward UV irradiance with intensity as low as 0.001 mw/cm².

Second-order nonlinear optical switching with a record-high contrast for a photochromic and thermochromic bistable crystal

Nonlinear optical (NLO) switchable materials are important for photonic and optoelectronic technologies. One important issue for NLO photoswitching, the most studied physical switching approach, is how to improve the switching contrast of second harmonic generation (SHG) in crystals, because the known values are generally below 3 times. Thermoswitching, as another approach, has shown impressive high SHG-switching contrasts (4-∞ times), but the fast decay of thermally induced states demands constant heat sources to maintain specific SHG intensities. We have synthesized a photochromic and thermochromic bistable acentric compound, β-[(MQ)ZnCl3] (MQ+ = N-methyl-4,4'-bipyridinium), which represents the first crystalline compound with both photo- and heat-induced SHG-switching behavior and the first example of a thermoswitchable NLO crystal that can maintain its expected second-order NLO intensity without any heat source. The SHG-switching contrast can reach about 8 times after laser irradiation or 2 times after thermal annealing. The former value is the highest recorded for photoswitchable NLO crystals. This work also indicates that higher SHG-switching contrasts may be obtained through increasing electron-transfer efficiency, variation of permanent dipole moment, and self-absorption.

Unravelling chromism in metal–organic frameworks

Chromophoric MOFs are reviewed, focussing on those which change colour on application of external stimuli such as heat, pressure, light or chemical environment.

Assembly of donor–acceptor hybrid heterostructures based on iodoplumbates and viologen coordination polymers

Two D–A hybrid heterostructures have been formed by the insertion of electron-rich iodoplumbates into viologen coordination polymers, which exhibit highly effcient photocatalytic degradation RhB under visible light irradiation.

Anion-controlled photochromism of two bipyridinium-based coordination polymers and nondestructive luminescence readout

The first Zn-based coordination polymer constructed with a bipyridinium-functionalized m-benzenedicarboxyl ligand has been synthesized, which can show dual luminescence responses to light in different spectral regions to render nondestructive luminescence readout.

Photochromic and Nonphotochromic Luminescent Supramolecular Isomers Based on Carboxylate-Functionalized Bipyridinium Ligand: (4,4)-Net versus Interpenetrated (6,3)-Net

Photochromic and nonphotochromic luminescent bipyridinium-based supramolecular isomers [Cd(CPBPY)(BDC)(H2O)]n (1) and {[Cd(CPBPY)(BDC)]·H2O}n (2) (CPBPY = N-(3-carboxyphenyl)-4,4'-bipyridinium, BDC= terephthalate) have been successfully obtained by solvothermal reactions at 100 °C via tuning stoichiometric ratios of starting reagents. Isomer 1 features (4,4)-topological layer constructed by edge-shared Cd2 SBUs and BDC linkers attached by N-pendent CPBPY groups. Isomer 2 has (6,3)-topological layers with Cd atoms as nodes and BDC and double CPBPY as linkers, which are 4-fold interpenetrated into 3D network. Although both 1 and 2 contain bipyridinium ligands, only isomer 1 possesses reversible photochromic behavior with quick-switchable luminescence in the solid state. Compound 2 does not show photochromic behavior even after exposure to UV light for more than 2 h. Photochromism process of 1 originates from photostimulated reduction of CPBPY ligands to generate CPBPY(•-) radicals after irradiation, confirmed by EPR spectra. Careful check on structure reveals that the offset π-π stacking interaction between the pyridine ring of CPBPY and benzene ring of BDC with inter-ring shortest C···C distance of 3.214 Å in 1 is responsible for electron transfer to form the CPBPY(•-) radicals. The speculation is further supported by DFT calculation of frontier orbital matching of electron donor and acceptor. HOMO and HOMO-2 orbitals of BDC involve the carbon atoms of benzene ring while LUMO and LUMO+1 orbitals of CPBPY involve the carbon atoms of pyridinium ring. Importantly, the photoinduced formed CPBPY(•-) radicals in 1 have a long-lived lifetime (at least six months in air and room temperature condition), which is mainly attributed to the close packing mode.

Stoichiometry-controlled structural and functional variation in two photochromic iodoargentates with a fast and wide range response

Two MCMP⁺/iodoargentate hybrids have been synthesized and they exhibit rare electron transfer photochromsim with a fast response rate, a wide response range and a long-lived charge-separated state, which is largely ascribed to the flexible aggregation of electron-deficient MCMP⁺ counterions.