A Zn (II)-viologen MOF material: Photochromic, photoswitchable luminescent properties and UV sensing

• Published in: Journal of molecular structure 2023-07, Vol.1283, p.135297, Article 135297
• Main Authors: Chen, Chunyan, Liu, Jifa, Sun, Zheng, Yang, Shujuan, Yuan, Senwen, Han, Haitao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 3D MOF; Photochromic properties; Photoswitchable luminescence; UV detection
• ISSN: 0022-2860; 1872-8014
• DOI: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2023.135297

•A new Zn (II)-viologen based MOF was synthesized and characterized.•The compound showed photoswitchable luminescence and photochromic properties.•The compound could be used as a sensor for UV detection. In this study, one Zn-viologen complex, named [Zn3(Hbdpd)(bdpd)(Cl)(Bbpy)] (1) (BbpyCl2 = 1,1′'-[(4,4′-biphenylylene)bismethylene]bis(4,4′-bipyridine)·2chloride; H4bdpd = 2,6-bis (3′,5′-dicarboxyphenyl) pyridine) has been constructed via a self-assembly method. Compound 1 features a 3D pillared layer dense framework and shows excellent photochromic properties from yellow to blue when exposed to 365 nm light at intensity of 500 µw/cm2 for 30 min. More interestingly, complex 1 displays light green fluorescence with quantum yield of 6.1% and reversible naked-eye photoswitchable luminescence at room-temperature in the solid state upon 365 nm UV excitation. Based on the multicolor photochromic behavior and photoswitchable luminescent property of compound 1, the finely powdered sample has the potential application for UV detection in real world. A novel Zn (II)-viologen based MOF was obtained by the reaction of Zn2+ ion, 1,1′'-[(4,4′-biphenylylene)bismethylene]bis(4,4′-bipyridine)·2chloride and 2,6-bis (3′,5′-dicarboxyphenyl) pyridine under solvothermal conditions. This compound exhibited photochromic properties and photoswitchable luminescence upon UV–vis light irradiation, which can be used as a sensor for UV detection. [Display omitted]