Systematic Tuning of the Luminescence Output of Multicomponent Metal-Organic Frameworks

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) exhibit a broad range of luminescence characteristics due to the vast array of metal ions and organic linkers available as building blocks. Systematic control over the emissive output of MOFs is highly sought after. Methods for tuning emission profiles are emerging based largely on luminescent metal ions and the encapsulation of emissive guests. Herein, we show how the functionalization of the organic linkers of a series of multicomponent MUF-77 (MUF = Massey University Framework) materials can methodically tune their spectral output. This was quantified by chromaticity diagrams. White-light emission was obtained by combining the photophysical characteristics of the three distinct organic fluorophores present in these materials. Our results also show that both (i) energy transfer interactions between the organic components and (ii) noncovalent interactions with guests can also be harnessed to tune the emission. These results establish multicomponent metal-organic frameworks as fluorescent materials with unique spectral characteristics.