We report that two types of Zn-terephthalate (TPA) MOFs (namely [Zn(TPA)(DMF)] (1-DMF) and MOF-5) could exhibit an obvious room-temperature afterglow emission with a time-resolved luminescence lifetime as high as 0.47 seconds.

Lanthanide metal-organic frameworks (Ln-MOFs) have received much attention owing to their structural tunability and widely photofunctional applications. However, successful examples of Ln-MOFs with well-defined photonic performances at micro-/nanometer size are still quite limited. Herein, self-assemblies of 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid (BTC) and lanthanide ions afford isostructural crystalline Ln-MOFs. Tb-BTC, Eu@Tb-BTC, and Eu-BTC have 1D microrod morphologies, high photoluminescence (PL) quantum yields, and different emission colors (green, orange, and red). Spatially PL resolved spectra confirm that Ln-MOF microrods exhibit an optical waveguide effect with low waveguide loss coefficient (0.012≈0.033 dB μm ) during propagation. Furthermore, these microrods feature both linear and chiral polarized photoemission with high anisotropy.

Molecule‐based solid‐state materials with room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) are playing an increasingly important role in developing optical sensors, security systems, and biological imaging. However, molecular systems involving long‐lived persistent RTP are still rare to date, which has limited the efficiently luminescent recognition and identification. Herein, it is illustrated that the RTP properties of molecular phosphors can be highly enhanced based on coordination interaction with common metal (such as Zn2+). These molecule–metal hybrids present tunable afterglow phosphorescence by adjusting metal species and stacking fashions of molecular units, with the longest RTP lifetime of 1.3 s. Such long‐lived persistent emission decay is higher than most of currently reported molecule‐based and molecule–metal solid‐state RTP systems. Moreover, the reversible phosphorescence transformation under different pH and heat conditions can be further switched and recycled. This work therefore offers a cost‐effective and facile way to achieve high‐performance RTP metal‐organic hybrid materials, which could serve as promising candidates for noble‐metal‐free and rare‐earth‐free phosphors in illumination and sensor applications.

The development of low-dimensional perovskite micro/nanostructures with high water stability for novel photonic/electronic applications is highly desirable.

Molecule-based solid-state materials with long lifetimes could enable longer migration distances for excitons, which are beneficial for vast applications in optoelectronic field. Herein, we report a hexanuclear zinc cluster based MOF exhibits highly enhanced phosphorescence about 2 orders of magnitude in comparison with the pristine phosphor ligand. The combination of both experimental and computational results suggest that the {Zn6} cluster is very important for adjusting molecular conformations, packing arrangement, and photophysical properties of the organic phosphor ligands within the MOF matrix. Optoelectronic measurements reveal that the MOF-modified electrode is catalytically active to hydrogen evolution under light irradiation in neutral solution. Thus, our study provide an effective way to achieve low-cost metal-based phosphorescence MOF, expanding its further optoelectronic applications.

Luminescent metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have received much attention due to their applications in color displays, sensors, and smart materials. However, how to balance the energy distribution between singlet and triplet excited states for a new generation of persistent luminescent MOFs is still a challenging goal. In this work, we report that the construction of cluster-based MOFs can supply an effective way to modulate the fluorescence and room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) emission based on adjustable π-π stacking, halogen-bonding interaction, and metal-cluster units. Compared to the pristine ligand (5-bromoisophthalic acid) with obvious spin-orbit coupling, Zn and Zn cluster-based MOFs exhibit tunable photoluminescence (such as fluorescence and RTP wavelength, lifetime, and quantum yield). The ultralong-lived RTP visualization and temperature-dependent luminescence also provide the Zn cluster-based MOF as a new type of anticounterfeiting and temperature-responsive phosphorescent switch material. Therefore, this work highlights the first example of cluster-based MOFs as ultralong-lived persistent luminescent materials for tuning singlet and triplet excited states, which may be extended to other similar systems for developing ultralong RTP and delayed fluorescence materials.

Micro-scale MOF host–guest with tunable phosphorescence and enhanced optoelectronic performance can be obtained by a facile and scalable precipitation process in aqueous solution.

A mesoporous metal–organic framework with perfect 1-D hexagonal channels and high physicochemical stability represents a promising candidate for use as an electrode material in supercapacitors.