Integration of Open Metal Sites in an Amino-Functionalized Sm(III)–Organic Framework toward Enhanced Third-Order Nonlinear Optical Property

Abstract

A variety of new inorganic and organic materials have emerged to advance laser technologies and optical engineering. A rational design approach can contribute significantly to fabricating nonlinear optically active metal−organic frameworks (MOFs) by considering the underlying structure−property linkage. Here, it has been embarked on a study of novel samarium(III) MOF, ([Sm 2 (ata) 3 (DMF) 4 ]•DMF (ata 2− : 2aminoterephthalate), abbreviated as NH 2 -Sm-MUM-4) with enhanced nonlinear optical (NLO) properties. The crystal structure of this MOF represents a 6-connected framework with a pcu topology and distinctive characteristics, including open metal sites, free amine groups, and great stability, making it suitable for third-order NLO activity. The nonlinear index of refraction (n 2 ) revealed the self-focusing impacts of NH 2 -Sm-MUM-4 at different incident intensities. The highest value of n 2 and β related to 10 mw power of incident intensity are 5.15 cm 2 /W and 2.65 cm/W, respectively. As far as the authors know, this is the first study examining the potential systematic structural−property associations in Sm-MOFs considering improved third-order NLO properties.