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).
keywords
EARTH COORDINATION POLYMERS; NEAR-INFRARED-LUMINESCENCE; UP-CONVERSION LUMINESCENCE; MAGNETIC-PROPERTIES; PHOTOPHYSICAL PROPERTIES; BUILDING-BLOCKS; MICROPOROUS METAL; HYBRID MATERIALS; SMALL MOLECULES; HELICAL CHAINS
subject category
Chemistry
authors
Rocha, J; Carlos, LD; Paz, FAA; Ananias, D
our authors
Duarte Ananias
Assistant Researcher
Filipe Alexandre Almeida Paz
Principal Researcher
João Rocha
Full Professor
Luís Carlos
Full professorProjects
Nanogotas de Água em Materiais Microporosos e Híbridos Orgânicos-Inorgânicos (PTDC/QUI/65805/2006)
acknowledgements
We thank Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia: PTDC/QUI/65805/2006 (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-007424), and PTDC/QUI-QUI/098098/2008 (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-010785).