Dynamic Full-Color Tuning of Organic Chromophore in a Multi-Stimuli-Responsive 2D Flexible MOF

Developing universal stimuli-responsive materials capable of emitting a broad spectrum of colors is highly desirable. Herein, we deliberately grafted a conformation-adaptable organic chromophore into the established coordination space of a flexible metal-organic framework (MOF). In terms of the coupled structural transformations and the space confinement, the chromophore in the MOF matrix underwent well-regulated conformational changes under physical and chemical stimuli, simultaneously displaying thermo-, piezo-, and solvato-fluoro-chromism with color tunability over the visible range. Owing to the resilient nature and the reduced dimensionality of the selected coordination space, all three color modulations behaved in a sensitive and self-reversible manner, each following a linear correlation of the emission maximum with stimulus. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction of the variable-temperature structures and solvent-inclusion crystals elucidated the intricate color varying mechanisms.

Automated summary

Developing universal stimuli-responsive materials capable of emitting a broad spectrum of colors is highly desirable. In this study, a conformation-adaptable organic chromophore was deliberately grafted into a flexible metal-organic framework, resulting in color tunability over the visible range. The material displayed thermo-, piezo-, and solvato-fluoro-chromism, all behaving in a sensitive and self-reversible manner.