Photoluminescence, Unconventional‐Range Temperature Sensing, and Efficient Catalytic Activities of Lanthanide Metal–Organic Frameworks

Abstract

Abstract A luminescent lanthanide metal–organic framework (MOF) based on Eu 3+ and Tb 3+ ions with 2‐phenylsuccinate (EuTb‐psa) was obtained solvothermally to explore its behavior as a temperature sensor in an unconventional temperature range through the study of the thermal evolution of the hypersensitive 4f–4f 5 D 0 → 7 F 2 transition and the luminescence lifetime. The efficiency of the luminescence process was evaluated through the europium intrinsic quantum yield ( Q Eu ), and its variation as a function of temperature is also reported. The optical properties of four isostructural compounds (Pr‐psa, Nd‐psa, Gd‐psa, and Tb‐psa) were investigated and compared with those of related compounds. The energy of the triplet state of the ligand was also estimated. The samples were fully characterized by single‐crystal and powder X‐ray diffraction, thermal analysis, and vibrational spectroscopy. The heterogeneous catalytic activities of a series of Ln‐psa MOFs (with Ln = Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, EuGd, and EuTb) were evaluated in a one‐pot cyanosilylation with benzaldehyde as the substrate.