Zhang-Wen Wei

Ultrafast water sensing and thermal imaging by a metal-organic framework with switchable luminescence

A convenient, fast and selective water analysis method is highly desirable in industrial and detection processes. Here a robust microporous Zn-MOF (metal–organic framework, Zn(hpi2cf)(DMF)(H2O)) is assembled from a dual-emissive H2hpi2cf (5-(2-(5-fluoro-2-hydroxyphenyl)-4,5-bis(4-fluorophenyl)-1H-imidazol-1-yl)isophthalic acid) ligand that exhibits characteristic excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT). This Zn-MOF contains amphipathic micropores (<3 Å) and undergoes extremely facile single-crystal-to-single-crystal transformation driven by reversible removal/uptake of coordinating water molecules simply stimulated by dry gas blowing or gentle heating at 70 °C, manifesting an excellent example of dynamic reversible coordination behaviour. The interconversion between the hydrated and dehydrated phases can turn the ligand ESIPT process on or off, resulting in sensitive two-colour photoluminescence switching over cycles. Therefore, this Zn-MOF represents an excellent PL water-sensing material, showing a fast (on the order of seconds) and highly selective response to water on a molecular level. Furthermore, paper or in situ grown ZnO-based sensing films have been fabricated and applied in humidity sensing (RH<1%), detection of traces of water (<0.05% v/v) in various organic solvents, thermal imaging and as a thermometer.

Precise Modulation of the Breathing Behavior and Pore Surface in Zr-MOFs by Reversible Post-Synthetic Variable-Spacer Installation to Fine-Tune the Expansion Magnitude and Sorption Properties

To combine flexibility and modifiability towards a more controllable complexity of MOFs, a post-synthetic variable-spacer installation (PVSI) strategy is used to implement kinetic installation/ uninstallation of secondary ligands into/from a robust yet flexible proto-Zr-MOF. This PVSI process features precise positioning of spacers with different length, size, number, and functionality, enabling accurate fixation of successive breathing stages and fine-tuning of pore surface. It shows unprecedented synthetic tailorability to create complicated MOFs in a predictable way for property modification, for example, CO2 and R22 adsorption/separation, thermal/chemical stability, and extended breathing behavior.

Dynamic Spacer Installation for Multirole Metal–Organic Frameworks: A New Direction toward Multifunctional MOFs Achieving Ultrahigh Methane Storage Working Capacity

A robust Zr-MOF (LIFM-28) containing replaceable coordination sites for additional spacer installation has been employed to demonstrate a swing- or multirole strategy for multifunctional MOFs. Through reversible installation/uninstallation of two types of spacers with different lengths and variable functional groups, different tasks can be accomplished using the same parent MOF. An orthogonal optimizing method is applied with seven shorter (L1-7) and six longer (L8-13) spacers to tune the functionalities, achieving multipurpose switches among gas separation, catalysis, click reaction, luminescence, and particularly, ultrahigh methane storage working capacity at 5-80 bar and 298 K.

An Efficient Visible and Near-Infrared (NIR) Emitting Sm(III) Metal-Organic Framework (Sm-MOF) Sensitized by Excited-State Intramolecular Proton Transfer (ESIPT) Ligand.

We report herein an unprecedented example of a luminescent Sm(III) metal-organic framework (Sm-MOF), in which both the visible and near-infrared (NIR) emissions of Sm(3+) ions are able to be sensitized by an excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) ligand. Due to the solvent-mediated interchange between enol and keto excited states of the ligand and subsequent energy transfer rate to Sm(3+) ions, the luminescent decay lifetime of the Sm-MOF can be tuned in different solvent-grinding systems.

Rigidifying Effect of Metal–Organic Frameworks: Protect the Conformation, Packing Mode, and Blue Fluorescence of a Soft Piezofluorochromic Compound under Pressures up to 8 MPa

We demonstrate that the conformation, packing mode, and blue fluorescence of a soft piezofluorochromic compound can be preserved by structurally fixing it into a solid calcium metal-organic framework (Ca-MOF, LIFM-40), which can survive pressures up to 8 MPa. DFT calculations have been combined with experimental results to indicate that the ligands adopting a specific conformation and packing without π···π interactions are the reasons for its rigidified blue emission.

Ligand and Metal Effects on the Stability and Adsorption Properties of an Isoreticular Series of MOFs Based on T-Shaped Ligands and Paddle-Wheel Secondary Building Units

The synthesis of stable porous materials with appropriate pore size and shape for desired applications remains challenging. In this work a combined experimental/computational approach has been undertaken to tune the stability under various conditions and the adsorption behavior of a series of MOFs by subtle control of both the nature of the metal center (Co2+ , Cu2+ , and Zn2+ ) and the pore surface by the functionalization of the organic linkers with amido and N-oxide groups. In this context, six isoreticular MOFs based on T-shaped ligands and paddle-wheel units with ScD0.33 topology have been synthesized. Their stabilities have been systematically investigated along with their ability to adsorb a wide range of gases (N2 , CO2 , CH4 , CO, H2, light hydrocarbons (C1 -C4 )) and vapors (alcohols and water). This study has revealed that the MOF frameworks based on Cu2+ are more stable than their Co2+ and Zn2+ analogues, and that the N-oxide ligand endows the MOFs with a higher affinity for CO2 leading to excellent selectivity for this gas over other species.

A Robust Metal–Organic Framework Combining Open Metal Sites and Polar Groups for Methane Purification and CO2/Fluorocarbon Capture

A 3D porous perchlorinated metal-organic framework (MOF), LIFM-26, featuring dual functionality, that is, functional polar groups and open metal sites, has been synthesized using perchlorinated linear dicarboxylate to link trigonal prismatic Fe3 (μ3 -O) units. LIFM-26 exhibits good thermal and chemical stability, and possesses high porosity with a BET surface area of 1513 m2  g-1 , compared with isoreticular MOF-235 and Fe3 O(F4 BDC)3 (H2 O)3 (F4 BDC=2,3,5,6-tetrafluorobenzene-1,4-dicarboxylate). Most strikingly, LIFM-26 features good gas sorption/separation performance at 298 K and 1 atm with IAST selectivity values reaching up to 36, 93, 23, 11, 46, and 202 for CO2 /CH4 , CO2 /N2 , C2 H4 /CH4 , C2 H6 /CH4 , C3 H8 /CH4 , and R22/N2 (R22=CHClF2 ), respectively, showing potential for use in biogas/natural gas purification and CO2 /R22 capture.

Enhancement of a two-photon absorption cross section (TPACS)--design and synthesis of a novel class of photochromic molecules with large TPACS.

Two novel photochromic compounds were designed and synthesized; the two-photon absorption (TPA) cross section of both were measured with a nanosecond laser pulse; their TPACS (delta) values are around 25 x 10(-46) cm4 s photon-1 molecule-1 in acetonitrile; the molecular structure of the target compounds have a 3-methyl-1-benzothiophen-2-yl moiety, which can greatly enhance the two-photon absorption cross section.

A stable metal cluster-metalloporphyrin MOF with high capacity for cationic dye removal

A metalloporphyrin Cu5-cluster based MOF (metal–organic framework), [Cu4.5((H4TZPP)(TZPP)Cl2)(H2O)0.5]·CH3NH2CH3·7EtOH·8H2O (LIFM-WZ-3) was synthesized from the tetrapodal ligand 5,10,15,20-tetrakis[4-(2,3,4,5-tetrazolyl)phenyl]porphyrin (H6TZPP) and copper chloride. LIFM-WZ-3 exhibits a rare 2D + 3D → 3D interpenetration topology, of which the frl-type 3D MOF and a layered 2D HOF (hydrogen bond organic framework) are intertwined, leading to an anionic framework with 1D spindle-like channels. Powder X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that the framework is stable in acid, base and various organic solvent environments. LIFM-WZ-3 exhibits moderately high separation performances for CO2/CH4, CO2/N2, C3H6/CH4, C2H6/CH4, and C2H4/CH4 at room temperature. Specifically, the anionic framework in LIFM-WZ-3 containing dimethylamine cations can selectively adsorb cationic organic dyes from aqueous pollutants for recycle purpose. The high adsorption capacity for methylene-blue (MB+, 983 mg g−1) and crystal violet (CV+, 713.5 mg g−1) ranks the highest among those MOFs ever reported.

Solvent-Induced and Temperature-Promoted Aggregation of Bipyridine Platinum(II) Triangular Metallacycles and Their Near-Infrared Emissive Behaviors

A series of bipyridine platinum(II) complexes with different sizes of triangular metallacycles and alkyl/oligoether chains has been synthesized and characterized. They are packed in a zig-zag fashion with the formation of dimeric structures according to their X-ray crystal structures. Different emission origins are observed due to the different sizes of the triangular ligands. Their morphologies could be tuned by the modification of the molecular structures with different metallacyclic alkynyl ligands and alkyl/oligoether chains and solvents. More interestingly, unusual electronic absorption changes and upfield shifts of the aromatic proton resonances are observed upon increasing the temperature, suggesting further aggregation of the architectures. Near-infrared (NIR) emission is also realized through the tuning of the π-π stacking, Pt⋅⋅⋅Pt interactions, and the packing of planar metallacycles.