Chiral metal-organic frameworks for photonics

Recently, there has been significant interest in the use of chiral metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and coordination polymers (CPs) for photonics applications. The promise of these materials lies in the ability to tune their properties through judicious selection of the metal and ligand components. Additionally, the interaction of guest species with the host framework can be exploited to realise new functionalities. In this review, we outline the methods for synthesising chiral MOFs and CPs, then analyse the recent innovations in their use for various optical and photonics applications. We focus on two emerging directions in the field of MOF chemistry - circularly polarised luminescence (CPL) and chiroptical switching - as well as the latest developments in the use of these materials for second-order nonlinear optics (NLO), particularly second-harmonic generation (SHG). The current challenges encountered so far, their possible solutions, and key directions for further research are also outlined. Overall, given the results demonstrated to date, chiral MOFs and CPs show great promise for use in future technologies such as optical communication and computing, optical displays, and all-optical devices.

Chiral Metal-Organic Frameworks

In the past two decades, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) or porous coordination polymers (PCPs) assembled from metal ions or clusters and organic linkers via metal-ligand coordination bonds have captivated significant scientific interest on account of their high crystallinity, exceptional porosity, and tunable pore size, high modularity, and diverse functionality. The opportunity to achieve functional porous materials by design with promising properties, unattainable for solid-state materials in general, distinguishes MOFs from other classes of materials, in particular, traditional porous materials such as activated carbon, silica, and zeolites, thereby leading to complementary properties. Scientists have conducted intense research in the production of chiral MOF (CMOF) materials for specific applications including but not limited to chiral recognition, separation, and catalysis since the discovery of the first functional CMOF (i.e., d- or l-POST-1). At present, CMOFs have become interdisciplinary between chirality chemistry, coordination chemistry, and material chemistry, which involve in many subjects including chemistry, physics, optics, medicine, pharmacology, biology, crystal engineering, environmental science, etc. In this review, we will systematically summarize the recent progress of CMOFs regarding design strategies, synthetic approaches, and cutting-edge applications. In particular, we will highlight the successful implementation of CMOFs in asymmetric catalysis, enantioselective separation, enantioselective recognition, and sensing. We envision that this review will provide readers a good understanding of CMOF chemistry and, more importantly, facilitate research endeavors for the rational design of multifunctional CMOFs and their industrial implementation.

A series of isostructural lanthanide metal-organic frameworks: effective fluorescence sensing for Fe3+, 2,4-DNP and 4-NP

Because of the fluorescence properties, lanthanide metal-organic frameworks (Ln-MOFs) materials have potential application in the detections of metal ions and nitro-aromatic explosives. Herein, a series of isostructural Ln-MOFs [Ln2(PIA)3(DMF)3(CH3OH)] (JLU-MOF201-Ln,...

Assembly of Three Lanthanide Coordination Polymers from 2-(4-Carboxybenzyloxy) Benzoic Acid Ligand: Synthesis, Structure, and Fluorescent Properties

Three new coordination polymers, {[Ln(cbb)(Hcbb)(DMF)·H2O]n, Ln=Sm (1), Eu (2), Tb(3), H2cbb=2-(4-carboxybenzyloxy) benzoic acid, DMF=N,N-dimethylformamide}, have been synthesised by a solvothermal reaction and structurally characterised by infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis, thermogravimetry analysis, and X-ray single-crystal diffraction. The results of single-crystal X-ray diffraction indicate that the coordination polymers 1–3 are isostructural, belong to a triclinic system, space group P-1, and show 1D chain structures through the H2cbb ligands connecting adjacent lanthanide ions. In addition, the fluorescence properties of polymers 1–3 were also investigated.

2D lanthanide coordination polymers constructed from a semi-rigid tricarboxylic acid ligand: crystal structure, luminescence sensing and color tuning

Three lanthanide polymers {[Ln(TMCA)(DEF)(H₂O)]·(CH₃CN)}_n (Ln = Eu 1; Tb 2; Gd 3; H₃TMCA = 4′,4′,4′-[(trimethylamino)]-tris[(1,1′-biphenyl)-2-carboxylic acid]) were synthesized under solvothermal conditions.