Ratiometric detection of temperature using responsive dual-emissive MOF hybrids

Herein, we have developed a dual-emitting metal-organic framework (MOF) hybrid by imparting additional lanthanide luminescence to a robust MOF with inherent broad emission. The imparted lanthanide emission is sensitized by the parent framework via energy transfer from the organic linkers embedded in the framework. The dual-emitting MOF hybrid exhibits an exactly contrary thermal dependence with respect to the intrinsic broad emission and incorporated lanthanide emission, and thus can serve as a robust platform for highly sensitive temperature sensing. This work represents a new approach for the fabrication of ratiometric MOF thermometers, as it highlights the opportunity of a variety of existing MOFs with inherent ligand-based or charge-transfer luminescence to explore ratiometric temperature sensing by the incorporation of additional lanthanide emission.