An Efficient Blue-Emissive Metal–Organic Framework (MOF) for Lanthanide-Encapsulated Multicolor and Stimuli-Responsive Luminescence

Abstract

A novel blue-emitting Zn(II) MOF featuring parallel 2D+2D interpenetrated layers and tubelike channels was generated and shown to efficiently accommodate lanthanide(III) cations (Ln³⁺ = Eu³⁺, Tb³⁺, or a mixture of Eu³⁺/Tb³⁺), resulting in the Ln³⁺-encapsulated functional materials with a tunable emission color, including red, green, and nearly pure white light. Furthermore, the thermal-responsive luminescence was investigated for the lanthanide-codoped MOF to exhibit the chromic transition from white at room temperature to blue around liquid nitrogen temperature.