Framework-Shrinkage-Induced Wavelength-Switchable Lasing from a Single Hydrogen-Bonded Organic Framework Microcrystal

Abstract

Porous organic materials (POMs) have shown great potential for fabricating tunable miniaturized lasers. However, most pure-POM micro/nanolasers are achieved via coordination interactions, during which strong charge exchanges inevitably destroy the intrinsic gain property and even lead to optical quenching, hindering their practical applications. Herein, we reported on an approach to realize hydrogen-bonded organic framework (HOF)-based in situ wavelength-switchable lasing based on the framework-shrinkage effect. A flexible HOF with reversible framework shrinkage was constructed from gain blocks with multiple rotors. The framework shrinkage of the HOF induced the in situ regulation on the conformation and conjugation degree of gain blocks, leading to distinct energy-level structures with blue/green-color gain emissions. Inspired by this, the in situ wavelength-switchable lasing from HOF microcrystals was achieved through reversibly controlling the framework shrinkage via the absorption/desorption of guests. The results offer useful insight into the use of flexible HOFs for exploiting miniaturized lasers with on-demand nanophotonics performance.

Coordination-Guided Conformational Locking of 1D Metal–Organic Frameworks for a Tunable Stimuli-Responsive Luminescence Region

“…Here, the TPE-cored chromophore with multistage benzene ring rotors (m-tpbe) 51 is selected as an organic ligand to design and synthesize the 1D stimuli-responsive PL-MOFs with diverse color-switching properties (Figure 1a and S1). The ligand elongation increases the free volume and frame elasticity, which offer good tolerance for conformational rotations of optical ligands, providing an opportunity for wide color-tunable properties.…”

Recent Advances in Luminescent Hydrogen‐Bonded Organic Frameworks: Structures, Photophysical Properties, Applications

“…Similarly, Lv et al designed a flexible HOF for miniaturized lasers. [26] TPE chromophore with the pyridine group as the building block (7) constructed a 3D porous structure with rhombus channels (Figure 6a,b). The structural transformation of HOFs was accompanied by a remarkable luminescence change.…”

Hydrogen‐Bonded Organic Frameworks: Functionalized Construction Strategy by Nitrogen‐Containing Functional Group

“…The unique structural advantage of nitrogen‐containing functional groups enables the application of HOFs in microlasers. Recently, We further reported the skeleton contraction‐induced wavelength‐switchable laser material HOF‐FJU‐6 for a single hydrogen‐bonded organic skeleton microcrystal by replacing the phenylacetonitrile group on HOF‐FJU‐4 monomer with pyridine [73] . Due to the elasticity of hydrogen bonding when pyridine is involved in the formation of the framework, the in situ wavelength switchable laser of pure HOFs microcrystals is achieved by reversibly modulating the framework contraction through absorption/desorption of the guest.…”