Loading Photochromic Molecules into a Luminescent Metal-Organic Framework for Information Anticounterfeiting

Stimuli-responsive photoluminescent materials have attracted considerable attention owing to their potential applications in security protection because the information recorded directly in materials with static luminescent outputs are usually visible under either ambient or UV light. Herein, we realize reversible information anticounterfeiting by loading a photoswitchable diarylethene derivative into a lanthanide metal-organic framework (MOF). Light triggers the open- and closed-form isomerization of the diarylethene unit, which respectively regulates the inactivation and activation of the photochromic FRET process between the diarylethene acceptor and lanthanide donor, resulting in reversible luminescence on-off switching of the lanthanide emitting center in the MOF host. This photoresponsive host-guest system allows for reversible multiple information pattern visible/invisible transformation by simply alternating the exposure to UV and visible light.