Photochromic Metal-Organic Frameworks With White-Light Emission, and Multicolor Afterglow for Advanced...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Chemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Designing metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with multiple functionalities like long-afterglow luminescence (LAL), photochromism, and multicolor emission is crucial for advanced applications.
• Existing challenges include integrating these properties into a single material for effective anti-counterfeiting and information encryption.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize novel halide-tuned MOFs (X-MOFs) with integrated photoluminescence and photochromism.
• To explore the tunable luminescence and photochromic behavior of these X-MOFs for potential applications in security technologies.

Main Methods:

• Hydrothermal synthesis of X-MOFs using an electron-deficient triazine-based ligand and CdX₂ (X = Cl, Br, I).
• Investigation of luminescence properties, including excitation, temperature, and time-dependent multicolor long-afterglow luminescence (LAL).
• Analysis of photochromic and photothermal responses upon UV exposure, supported by theoretical calculations.

Main Results:

• Successful synthesis of halide-tuned X-MOFs exhibiting tunable multi-path luminescence.
• Demonstration of photochromic and photothermal responses attributed to HL· radical accumulation.
• Observation of irradiation-time-, excitation-, and temperature-dependent white-light tunability and multicolor LAL (green to orange).

Conclusions:

• The synthesized X-MOFs possess multifunctional properties including tunable luminescence and photochromism, driven by halogen engineering and ligand design.
• These materials offer a promising platform for high-security information encryption and anti-counterfeiting technologies.
• The study presents a straightforward strategy for developing advanced luminescent materials with integrated functionalities.