Coordination-Guided Conformational Locking of 1D Metal-Organic Frameworks for a Tunable Stimuli-Responsive Luminescence Region

Conformation-Driven Responsive 1D and 2D Lanthanide-Metal-Organic Framework Heterostructures for High-Security Photonic Barcodes

Development of luminescent segmented heterostructures featuring multiple spatial-responsive blocks is important to achieve miniaturized photonic barcodes toward anti-counterfeit applications. Unfortunately, dynamic manipulation of the spatial color at micro/nanoscale still remains a formidable challenge. Here, a straightforward strategy is proposed to construct spatially varied heterostructures through amplifying the conformation-driven response in flexible lanthanide-metal-organic frameworks (Ln-MOFs), where the thermally induced minor conformational changes in organic donors dramatically modulate the photoluminescence of Ln acceptors. Notably, compositionally and structurally distinct heterostructures (1D and 2D) are further constructed through epitaxial growth of multiple responsive MOF blocks benefiting from the isomorphous Ln-MOF structures. The thermally controlled emissive colors with distinguishable spectra carry the fingerprint information of a specific heterostructure, thus allowing for the effective construction of smart photonic barcodes with spatially responsive characteristics. The results will deepen the understanding of the conformation-driven responsive mechanism and also provide guidance to fabricate complex stimuli-responsive hierarchical microstructures for advanced optical recording and high-security labels.

Switchable Anisotropic/Isotropic Photon Transport in a Double-Dipole Metal-Organic Framework via Radical-Controlled Energy Transfer

Directional control of photon transport at micro/nanoscale holds great potential in developing multifunctional optoelectronic devices. Here, the switchable anisotropic/isotropic photon transport is reported in a double-dipole metal-organic framework (MOF) based on radical-controlled energy transfer. Double-dipole MOF microcrystals with transition dipole moments perpendicular to each other have been achieved by the pillared-layer coordination strategy. The energy transfer between the double dipolar chromophores can be modulated by the photogenerated radicals, which permits the in situ switchable output on both polarization (isotropy/anisotropy state) and wavelength information (blue/red-color emission). On this basis, the original MOF microcrystal with isotropic polarization state displays the isotropic photon transport and similar reabsorption losses at various directions, while the radical-affected MOF microcrystal with anisotropic polarization state shows the anisotropic photon transport with distinct reabsorption losses at different directions, finally leading to the in situ switchable anisotropic/isotropic photon transport. These results offer a novel strategy for the development of MOF-based photonic devices with tunable anisotropic performance.

Phenylalanine-Based Co2+ and Cd2+ 1D Coordination Polymers: Structural Properties and Catalytic Application for Solvent-Free Aerobic Oxidation of Cycloalkene

Two 1D coordination polymers (CPs) with general formula [M(L)(H2O)(AcO)]n, (M = Co (1) or Cd (2), AcO = acetate anion and L denotes l-phenylalanine based ligand), were synthesized and fully characterized by various spectroscopies (UV-vis, FTIR, and NMR), thermal techniques, magnetic measurements (for 1), and single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction studies. They can be described as "ribbon-like" 1D polymers constructed through a zigzag arrangement. The polymeric structure is developed due to the coordination mode adopted by the amino acid ligand, classified as μ3-N1O1:O1:O2, which simultaneously links three metal centers. This moiety also plays an important role as a magnetic coupler between metal centers in the cobalt system, which shows a weak antiferromagnetic interaction. Both CPs have also been used in the catalytic oxidation of cyclohexene with molecular oxygen (O2) as an oxidant. Under mild conditions, both compounds demonstrated remarkable catalytic activity, with the cobalt system being more efficient than the cadmium analogue (conversion: 73 and 58% and selectivity for the major product, 2-cyclohexanone: 63 and 55%, for 1 and 2, respectively). Leaching experiments and the results obtained using a radical quencher are consistent with a radical-mediated mechanism for the Co compound. The presence of the superoxide radical was also confirmed using EPR spectroscopy and DMPO as a spin trap, which was further validated by DFT calculations. The activity observed for the Cd analogue is attributed to the organic scaffold assisted by the templating effect of the metal ion.

Solvent-induced luminescence behavior of NH2-MIL-53(Fe) in H2O and D2O: a potential approach for D2O detection

An anomalous solvent-induced luminescence quenching of NH2-MIL-53(Fe) in D2O is reported. Contrary to conventional understanding, the quenching is originated from the inhibition of charge transfer by hydrogen bonding between NH2-MIL-53(Fe) and D2O, rather than protonation or high-frequency vibrations of solvent molecules. This enables accurate quantitative detection towards specific volume fractions of D2O in H2O.