Fabrication of Super-Sized Metal Inorganic-Organic Hybrid Glass with Supramolecular Network via Crystallization-Suppressing Approach

Metal coordination compound (MCC) glasses [e.g., metal-organic framework (MOF) glass, coordination polymer glass, and metal inorganic-organic complex (MIOC) glass] are emerging members of the hybrid glass family. So far, a limited number of crystalline MCCs can be converted into glasses by melt-quenching. Here, we report a universal wet-chemistry method, by which the super-sized supramolecular MIOC glasses can be synthesized from non-meltable MOFs. Alcohol and acid were used as agents to inhibit crystallization. The MIOC glasses demonstrate unique features including high transparency, shaping capability, and anisotropic network. Directional photoluminescence with a large polarization ratio (approximate to 47 %) was observed from samples doped with organic dyes. This crystallization-suppressing approach enables fabrication of super-sized MCC glasses, which cannot be achieved by conventional vitrification methods, and thus allows for exploring new MCC glasses possessing photonic functionalities.

Automated summary

Metal coordination compound (MCC) glasses, including metal-organic framework (MOF) glass, coordination polymer glass, and metal inorganic-organic complex (MIOC) glass, can be synthesized from non-meltable MOFs using a universal wet-chemistry method that inhibits crystallization. These super-sized MCC glasses demonstrate unique features such as high transparency, shaping capability, and anisotropic network. The approach of suppressing crystallization allows for the fabrication of novel MCC glasses with photonic functionalities.