Luminescent multifunctional lanthanides-based metal–organic frameworks

Abstract

Metal-organic frameworks based on trivalent lanthanides (LnMOFs) are a very promising class of materials for addressing the challenges in engineering of luminescent centres. Lanthanide-bearing phosphors find numerous applications in lighting, optical communications, photonics and biomedical devices. In this critical review we discuss the potential of LnMOFs as multifunctional systems, which combine light emission with properties such as microporosity, magnetism, chirality, molecule and ion sensing, catalysis and activity as multimodal imaging contrast agents. We argue that these materials present a unique chance of observing synergy between several of these properties, such as the coupling between photoluminescence and magnetism. Moreover, an integrated approach towards the design of efficient, stable, cheap, environmentally-friendly and multifunctional luminescent LnMOFs is still missing. Although research into LnMOFs is at its early stage and much basic knowledge is still needed, the field is ripe for new ideas, which will enable sensor devices and photonic prototypes to become a commercial reality (81 references).

Photoluminescent Metal–Organic Frameworks for Gas Sensing

“…The most representative examples are water induced luminescence quenching of lanthanide metal based MOFs,87 because their luminescence directly emit from the oxophilic lanthanide ions which have strong coordination ability for H 2 O,88, 89, 90 and the high‐energy O–H oscillators can effectively match electronic energy gaps of the lanthanide ions 91…”

Interpretation of europium(III) spectra

“…These ligands can act as an antenna to absorb the excitation light and to transfer the excitation energy to the higher energy levels of the Eu 3+ ion, from which the emitting excited levels can be populated. The photoluminescence of europium(III) complexes has been studied in solutions [1,2], polymer matrices [3,4], sol-gel glasses [5,6], functionalized sol-gel glasses [7][8][9][10][11], ionogels [12,13], liquid crystals [14][15][16], encapsulated into inorganic hosts such as zeolites [17][18][19][20] and in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) [21,22]. The design of europium(III)-containing inorganic-organic hybrid materials is a popular research field [23][24][25][26].…”

Crystal structure of poly[triaqua-µ2-sulfato-κ4O,O':O'',O'''-pyridine-3,5-dicarboxylato-κ4O,O':O'':O''']cerium(III) monohydrate, C7H11CeNO10S

“…The rational design and construction of lanthanide-organic coordination polymers with unique structural motifs and unique chemical and physical properties have attracted extensive interest in supramolecular chemistry and crystal engineering [1]. In the past decade there are numerous reports on lanthanide-organic hybrids because of their fascinating structures [2].…”