White Light-Emitting MOFs

White Light-Emitting MOFs

Author: Charlotte Koschnick

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are crystalline materials formed by the self-assembly of metal containing units which are linked by organic bridging ligands to form 1D chains, 2D sheets, or 3D networks. Due to their ultrahigh porosity and surface areas, MOFs provide a unique platform as host matrices for applications including material storage, separation, and catalysis. Thus far, many luminescent MOFs have been reported, but very few emit white light.

Xiantao Wu, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, China, and colleagues have developed a Zn(II)/hydrogenated Schiff base MOF, HSB-W1, which can produce white light upon excitation of a combination of red-, green-, and blue-emitting dye molecules within the framework with UV light.

In this study, the dye molecules were introduced into the pores of HSB-W1 by soaking the MOFs in dimethylformamide-dye solutions. The resultant MOF/dye composites were shown to illuminate white light with nearly ideal International Commission of Illumination coordinates, high color-rendering index values (up to 92 %), and good quantum yields (up to 26 %).

The team fabricated a white light-emitting diode (WLED) by coating red/green/blue-emitting MOF/dye composites on to the surface of an ultraviolet LED chip. The resultant WLED emitted bright white light showing the promise of MOF/dye composites as single-phase white light phosphor materials.


 

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