Photochromic Free MOF‐Based Near‐Infrared Optical Switch

Abstract

We demonstrate herein an all-optical switch based on stimuli-responsive and photochromic-free metal-organic framework (HKUST-1). Ultrafast near-infrared laser pulses stimulate a reversible 0.4 eV blue shift of the absorption band with up to 200 s^-1 rate due to dehydration and concomitant shrinking of the structure-forming [Cu₂ C₄ O₈ ] cages of HKUST-1. Such light-induced switching enables the remote modulation of intensities of photoluminescence of single crystals of HKUST-1 as well visible radiation passing through the crystal by 2 order of magnitude. This opens up the possibility of utilyzing stimuli-responsive MOFs for all-optical data processing devices.