Synthesis and structural characterization of luminescent MOF crystal-glass composites for photonic applications

• Grant number: 24/19256-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: February 01, 2025
• End date: January 31, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Principal Investigator: Marcos de Oliveira Junior
• Grantee: Guilherme Ribeiro Capelin
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física de São Carlos (IFSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 22/02974-1 - Fundamental aspects of the amorphous state of metal organic compounds: a solid state magnetic resonance approach, AP.PNGP.PI

Abstract

Very efficient Luminescent materials can be obtained by the preparation of Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) containing trivalent rare-earth ions. The rigidity imposed by the MOF structure and the possibility of permanent porosity yield luminescent characteristics which are usually not observed in other rare-earth based systems, such as metallic complexes and inorganic glasses. The field of luminescent MOFs is dominated by studies focused on the crystalline domain, despite the advantages offered by the glassy state, such as the superior mechanical stability and the possibility of fabrication in a larger variety of sizes and shapes. Unfortunately, most luminescent MOF compositions, although having interesting technological applications, do not undergo a glass-transition. On the other hand, recent research has revealed the possibility of preparing hybrid glasses with permanent porosity from Zeolitic Imidazole Framework (ZIF) MOFs. In the present project, we propose to combine the emission properties of selected lanthanide MOFs with the interesting characteristics of porous ZIF-glasses by the preparation of MOF crystal-glass composites. These materials will be tested for the use as sensors of small molecules and as active media in random lasers.