Tetraphenylethylene-Based Metal-Organic Frameworks for High-Voltage Stable X-ray Scintillation and Luminescence

Two X-ray metal-organic framework (MOF) scintillators were assembled by judiciously incorporating d¹⁰ transition-metal ions and an aggregation-induced emission ligand of tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)ethylene. Optical spectra characterizations demonstrated their distinct stable X-ray luminescence at high voltages, and both the emission peaks of the photoluminescence and X-ray excited luminescence appear at identical positions. A mechanism study revealed that the metal centers of the MOFs enhanced the X-ray absorption and the radiation-stimulated photon emissions were derived from the recombination of the excited electrons and holes on the organic chromophore via energy transfer.