Photochromic Free MOF-Based Near-Infrared Optical Switch

Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2020 Sep 1;59(36):15522-15526. doi: 10.1002/anie.202004293. Epub 2020 Jun 4.

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.

Keywords: HKUST-1; all-optical switch; metal-organic frameworks; photoswitching.