Reactions in water of lanthanide chlorides with the sodium salt of 1,4-carboxyphenylboronic acid lead to two series of isostructural compounds with respective general chemical formulas [Ln­(cpb)3(H2O)2]∞ for Ln = La or Ce and [Ln­(cpbOH)­(H2O)2·(cpb)]∞ for Ln = Pr–Lu (except Pm) plus Y. Heterolanthanide coordination polymers that are isostructural to the second series have been synthesized, and their photophysical properties have been studied. This study evidences that it is possible to design multiemissive lanthanide-based coordination polymers that could find their application as multigauge luminescent thermometric probes.

Microcrystalline core–shell powders of lanthanide-based coordination polymers with general chemical formula ([Ln­(cpbOH)]∞)1–x @([Ln′(cpbOH)]∞) x with Hcpb = 1,4-carboxyphenylboronic acid have been synthesized and structurally characterized. Their luminescent properties have been studied. They are drastically different from those of heterolanthanide coordination polymers, also called “molecular alloys”, that present the same crystal structure and chemical composition. Study of the photophysical properties of core–shell lanthanide-based coordination polymers reveals that it is possible to control efficiently the intermetallic energy transfers between lanthanide ions. Furthermore, multiemissive compounds, under unique irradiation, in both visible and infrared regions are easily feasible. Core–shell microstructured lanthanide-based coordination polymers have also been prepared with terephthalic (H2bdc) and trimesic (H3tma) acids as ligands for evidencing that lanthanide-ion-based coordination compounds are excellent candidates for 3D molecular epitaxial growth.