Multiphoton harvesting metal–organic frameworks

• DOI: 10.1038/ncomms8954
• Publication Date: 2015-08-06T10:14:53Z
• Authors: Hong Sheng Quah; Weiqiang Chen; Martin K. Schreyer; Hui Yang; Ming Wah Wong; Wei Ji; Jagadese J. Vittal
• Keywords: Photon Upconversion; Acceptor

Multiphoton upconversion is a process where two or more photons are absorbed simultaneously to excite an electron excited state and, subsequently, the relaxation of gives rise emission photon with frequency greater than those photons. Materials possessing such property attracted attention due applications in biological imaging, photodynamic therapy, three-dimensional optical data storage, frequency-upconverted lasing and power limiting. Here we report four-photon metal-organic frameworks containing ligand, trans, trans-9,10-bis(4-pyridylethenyl)anthracene. The ligand has symmetrical acceptor-π-donor-π-acceptor structure singlet biradical electronic ground state, which boosted its multiphoton absorption cross-sections. We demonstrate that efficiency can be enhanced by Förster resonance energy transfer within host-guest consisting encapsulated high quantum yielding guest molecules. Using these strategies, framework materials, exhibit photoluminescence simultaneous absorption, rationally designed synthesized.