Tunable Luminescent Heterometallic Zn2Ln2 Edge-Defective Molecular Cubane with Stimuli-Responsive Properties

Strong Foam-like Composites from Highly Mesoporous Wood and Metal-Organic Frameworks for Efficient CO2 Capture

Mechanical stability and multicycle durability are essential for emerging solid sorbents to maintain an efficient CO2 adsorption capacity and reduce cost. In this work, a strong foam-like composite is developed as a CO2 sorbent by the in situ growth of thermally stable and microporous metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) in a mesoporous cellulose template derived from balsa wood, which is delignified by using sodium chlorite and further functionalized by 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO)-mediated oxidation. The surface carboxyl groups in the TEMPO-oxidized wood template (TO-wood) facilitate the coordination of the cellulose network with multivalent metal ions and thus enable the nucleation and in situ growth of MOFs including copper benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate [Cu3(BTC)2], zinc 2-methylimidazolate, and aluminum benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate. The TO-wood/Cu3(BTC)2 composite shows a high specific surface area of 471 m2 g-1 and a high CO2 adsorption capacity of 1.46 mmol g-1 at 25 °C and atmospheric pressure. It also demonstrates high durability during the temperature swing cyclic CO2 adsorption/desorption test. In addition, the TO-wood/Cu3(BTC)2 composite is lightweight but exceptionally strong with a specific elastic modulus of 3034 kN m kg-1 and a specific yield strength of 68 kN m kg-1 under the compression test. The strong and durable TO-wood/MOF composites can potentially be used as a solid sorbent for CO2 capture, and their application can possibly be extended to environmental remediation, gas separation and purification, insulation, and catalysis.

Two isomeric zeolite-like metal–organic frameworks with mechanically responsive luminescence emission and gas adsorption properties

The two isomeric zeolite-like metal–organic frameworks based on tetrahedral TPO3− ligands and tetrahedrally connected Cd2+ ions were prepared. One of the compounds shows mechanic-responsive luminescence after the crystals were ground for different time.

Luminescent Thermochromic Silver Iodides as Wavelength-Dependent Thermometers

Luminescent thermochromic materials with a dramatic shift of emission band under different temperatures are highly desirable in temperature sensing fields. However, the design of the synthesis of such compounds remains a great challenge. In this work, two new luminescent thermochromic silver iodides, (emIm)Ag₃I₄ (1) and (emIm)Ag₂I₃ (2) (emIm = 1-ethyl-3-methyl imidazole), have been synthesized under solvothermal conditions. Compound 1 features a [Ag₃I₄]^- anionic layer, while compound 2 possesses an infinite [Ag₂I₃]^- chain structure, both of which are charge balanced by emIm⁺ cations. Particularly, they display luminescent thermochromism with a significant wavelength shift of emission maximum with temperature change. They represent rare examples of infinite layered or chain silver iodides that show luminescent thermochromism. Furthermore, the results indicate that compounds 1 and 2 are promising wavelength-dependent luminescent thermometers.

Color tuning of intrinsic white-light emission in anthracene-linker coordination networks

White light-emitting diodes (WLEDs) have aroused great attention due to their potential technological applications. In this work, we present two new Zn(ii) anthracene-linker-driven coordination polymers that exhibit intrinsic white-light emission. The emission covers the whole visible spectrum at room temperature. The chromaticity coordinates of the broadband emission can be tuned under external stimuli, including thermal and mechanical grinding. The obtained coordination polymer materials emit a "warm" white light at room temperature suitable for indoor lighting applications as well as a "cold" white light at the cryogenic temperature. Hence, the well-defined structures and mechanically tunable emission provide an excellent opportunity for realizing their potential as white emitters in optoelectronics.

Thermo-responsive light-emitting metal complexes and related materials

This review discusses the fundamentals and design strategies for the development of thermo-responsive metal–ligand coordination materials and the applications of these materials in temperature sensing, bioimaging, information security, etc.

Influence of alcoholic solvent and acetate anion coordination mode variations on structures and magnetic properties of heterometallic Zn2Dy2 tetranuclear clusters

We clarify that slight modifications of the synthetic conditions generate two Zn₂Dy₂ clusters with acetate anion coordination mode variation and different magnetic behaviors.

Mixed chelating ligands used to regulate the luminescence of Ln(iii) complexes and single-ion magnet behavior in Dy-based analogues

The organic ligands 5,7-dibromo-2-methyl-8-quinolinol (L1), 1,10-phenanthroline (L2), and 5,7-dichloro-2-methyl-8-quinolinol (L3) were used to react with Dy(NO₃)₃·6H₂O under solvothermal conditions at 80 °C to obtain the complexes [Dy(L1)₃(H₂O)] (1), [Dy(L2)₂(NO₃)₃] (2), and [Dy(L3)₃(H₂O)] (3), respectively.