Luminescent Ratiometric Thermometers Based on a 4f-3d Grafted Covalent Organic Framework to Locally Measure Temperature Gradients During Catalytic Reactions

Covalent Organic Frameworks (COFs), an emerging class of crystalline porous materials, are a new type of support for grafting lanthanide ions (Ln(3+)), which can be employed as ratiometric luminescent thermometers. In this work we have shown that COFs co-grafted with lanthanide ions (Eu3+, Tb3+) and Cu2+ (or potentially other d-metals) can synchronously be employed both as a nanothermometer and catalyst during a chemical reaction. The performance of the thermometer could be tuned by changing the grafted d-metal and solvent environment. As a proof of principle, the Glaser coupling reaction was investigated. We show that temperature can be precisely measured during the course of the catalytic reaction using luminescence thermometry. This concept could be potentially easily extended to other catalytic reactions by grafting other d-metal ions on the Ln@COF platform.

Automated summary

COFs co-grafted with lanthanide ions and Cu2+ can be used as both a nanothermometer and catalyst. The performance of the thermometer can be tuned by changing the grafted d-metal and solvent environment. This concept could potentially be extended to other catalytic reactions by grafting other d-metal ions on the Ln@COF platform.