Intrinsic Broadband White‐Light Emission from Ultrastable,Cationic Lead Halide Layered Materials

We report a family of cationic lead halide layered materials, formulated as [Pb₂X₂]²⁺[⁻O₂C(CH)₂CO₂⁻] (X=F, Cl, Br), exhibiting pronounced broadband white‐light emission in bulk form. These well‐defined PbX‐based structures achieve an external quantum efficiency as high as 11.8 %, which is comparable to the highest reported value (ca.9 %) for broadband phosphors based on layered organolead halide perovskites. More importantly, our cationic materials are ultrastable lead halide materials, which overcome the air/moisture‐sensitivity problems of lead perovskites. In contrast to the perovskites and other bulk emitters, the white‐light emission intensity of our materials remains undiminished after continuous UV irradiation for 30 days under atmospheric conditions (ca.60 % relative humidity). Our mechanistic studies confirm that the broadband emission is ascribed to short‐range electron‐phonon coupling in the strongly deformable lattice and generated self‐trapped carriers.     

Intrinsic White‐Light‐Emitting Metal–Organic Frameworks with Structurally Deformable Secondary Building Units

The secondary building units in metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are commonly well‐defined metal–oxo clusters or chains with very limited structural strain. Herein, the structurally deformable haloplumbate units that are often observed in organolead halide perovskites have been successfully incorporated into MOFs. The resultant materials are a rare class of isoreticular MOFs exhibiting large Stokes‐shifted broadband white‐light emission, which is probably induced by self‐trapped excitons from electron–phonon coupling in the deformable, zigzag [Pb₂X₃]⁺ (X=Cl, Br, or I) chains. In contrast, MOFs with highly symmetric, robust haloplumbate chains only exhibit narrow UV–blue photoemission. The designed MOF‐based intrinsic white‐light photoemitters have a number of advantages over hybrid inorganic–organic perovskites in terms of stability and tunability, including moisture resistance, facile functionalization of photoactive moieties onto the organic linkers, introduction of luminescent guests.     

Successful Decontamination of 99TcO4− in Groundwater at Legacy Nuclear Sites by a Cationic Metal‐Organic Framework with Hydrophobic Pockets

⁹⁹Tc contamination at legacy nuclear sites is a serious and unsolved environmental issue. The selective remediation of ⁹⁹TcO₄^? in the presence of a large excess of NO₃^? and SO₄^2? from natural waste systems represents a significant scientific and technical challenge, since anions with a higher charge density are often preferentially sorbed by traditional anion‐exchange materials. We present a solution to this challenge based on a stable cationic metal‐organic framework, SCU‐102 (Ni₂(tipm)₃(NO₃)₄), which exhibits fast sorption kinetics, a large capacity (291 mg g^?1), a high distribution coefficient, and, most importantly, a record‐high TcO₄^? uptake selectivity. This material can almost quantitatively remove TcO₄^? in the presence of a large excess of NO₃^? and SO₄^2?. Decontamination experiments confirm that SCU‐102 represents the optimal Tc scavenger with the highest reported clean‐up efficiency, while first‐principle simulations reveal that the origin of the selectivity is the recognition of TcO₄^? by the hydrophobic pockets of the structure.     

White‐Light Emission from Dual‐Way Photon Energy Conversion in a Dye‐Encapsulated Metal–Organic Framework

The design of white‐light phosphors is attractive in solid‐state lighting (SSL) and related fields. A new strategy in obtaining white light emission (WLE) from dual‐way photon energy conversion in a series of dye@MOF ( LIFM‐WZ‐6 ) systems is presented. Besides the traditional UV‐excited one‐photon absorption (OPA) pathway, white‐light modulation can also be gained from the combination of NIR‐excited green and red emissions of MOF backbone and encapsulated dyes via two‐photon absorption (TPA) pathway. As a result, down‐conversion OPA white light was obtained for RhB⁺@LIFM‐WZ‐6 (0.1 wt %), BR‐2⁺@LIFM‐WZ‐6 (2 wt %), and APFG⁺@LIFM‐WZ‐6 (0.1 wt %) samples under 365 nm excitation. RhB⁺@LIFM‐WZ‐6 (0.05 wt %), BR‐2⁺@LIFM‐WZ‐6 (1 wt %) and APFG⁺@LIFM‐WZ‐6 (0.05 wt %) exhibit up‐conversion TPA white light under the excitation of 800, 790, and 730 nm, respectively. This new WLE generation strategy combines different photon energy conversion mechanisms together.     

An Ultrastable and Easily Regenerated Hydrogen‐Bonded Organic Molecular Framework with Permanent Porosity

A robust hydrogen‐bonded organic framework HOF‐TCBP (H₄TCBP=3,3′,5,5′‐tetrakis‐(4‐carboxyphenyl)‐1,1′‐biphenyl) has been successfully constructed and structurally characterized. It possesses a permanent 3D porous structure with a 5‐fold interpenetrated dia topological network. This activated HOF‐TCBP has a high BET surface area of 2066 m² g⁻¹ and is capable of highly selective adsorption and separation of light hydrocarbons under ambient conditions. It shows excellent thermal stability, as demonstrated by PXRD experiments and N₂ adsorption tests. Practical use of HOF‐TCBP is facilitated by the ease of its preparation and renewal through rotary evaporation.     

Metal–Organic Framework‐Activated Carbon Composite Materials for the Removal of Ammonia from Contaminated Airstreams

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are a class of porous materials that show promise in the removal of toxic industrial chemicals (TICs) from contaminated airstreams, though their development for this application has so far been hindered by issues of water stability and the wide availability and low cost of traditionally used activated carbons. Here a series of three MOF‐activated carbon composite materials with different MOF to carbon ratios are prepared by growing STAM‐17‐OEt crystals inside the commercially available BPL activated carbon. The composite materials display excellent water stability and increased uptake of ammonia gas when compared to unimpregnated carbon. Such properties make these composites very promising in the fields of air purification and personal protective equipment.     

Lanthanide Metal–Organic Framework Microrods: Colored Optical Waveguides and Chiral Polarized Emission

Lanthanide metal–organic frameworks (Ln‐MOFs) have received much attention owing to their structural tunability and widely photofunctional applications. However, successful examples of Ln‐MOFs with well‐defined photonic performances at micro‐/nanometer size are still quite limited. Herein, self‐assemblies of 1,3,5‐benzenetricarboxylic acid (BTC) and lanthanide ions afford isostructural crystalline Ln‐MOFs. Tb‐BTC, Eu@Tb‐BTC, and Eu‐BTC have 1D microrod morphologies, high photoluminescence (PL) quantum yields, and different emission colors (green, orange, and red). Spatially PL resolved spectra confirm that Ln‐MOF microrods exhibit an optical waveguide effect with low waveguide loss coefficient (0.012≈0.033 dB μm⁻¹) during propagation. Furthermore, these microrods feature both linear and chiral polarized photoemission with high anisotropy.     

A Tale of Two Trimers from Two Different Worlds: A COF‐Inspired Synthetic Strategy for Pore‐Space Partitioning of MOFs

The introduction of a symmetry‐ and size‐matching pore‐partitioning agent in the form of either a molecular ligand, such as 2,4,6‐tri(4‐pyridinyl)‐1,3,5‐triazine ( tpt ), or a metal‐complex cluster, into the hexagonal channels of MIL‐88/MOF‐235‐type (the acs net) to create pacs ‐type (partitioned acs ) crystalline porous materials is an effective strategy to develop high‐performance gas adsorbents. We have developed an integrated COF–MOF coassembly strategy as a new method for pore‐space partitioning through the coassembly of [(M₃(OH)_1?x(O)_x(COO)₆] MOF‐type and [B₃O₃(py)₃] COF‐type trimers. With this strategy, the coordination‐driven assembly of the acs framework occurred concurrently and synergistically with the COF‐1‐type condensation of pyridine‐4‐boronic acid into a C₃‐symmetric trimeric boroxine molecule. The resulting boroxine‐based pacs materials exhibited dramatically enhanced gas‐sorption properties as compared to nonpartitioned acs ‐type materials and are among the most efficient NH₃‐sorption materials.     

White‐Light Emission from a Semi‐Conductive Borate‐Stannate

In response to ever‐increasing application requirements in lighting and displays, a tremendous emphasis is being placed on single‐component white‐light emission. Single‐component inorganic borates doped with rare earth metal ions have shown prominent achievements in white‐light emission. The first environmentally friendly defect‐induced white‐light emitting crystalline inorganic borate, Ba₂[Sn(OH)₆][B(OH)₄]₂, has been prepared. Additionally, it is the first borate‐stannate without a Sn?O?B linkage. Notably, Ba₂[Sn(OH)₆][B(OH)₄]₂ shows Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage (CIE) chromaticity coordinates of (0.42, 0.38), an ultrahigh color rendering index (CRI) of 94.1, and an appropriate correlated color temperature (CCT) of 3083 K. Such a promising material will provide a new approach in the development of white‐light emitting applications.     

CO2‐Cross‐Linked Frustrated Lewis Networks as Gas‐Regulated Dynamic Covalent Materials

The design of structurally dynamic molecular networks can offer strategies for fabricating stimuli‐responsive adaptive materials. Herein we first report a gas‐responsive dynamic gel system based on frustrated Lewis pair (FLP) chemistry. Two trefoil‐like molecules with bulky triphenylborane and triphenylphosphine groups are synthesized as complementary Lewis acid and base with trivalent sites. They can together bind CO₂ gas molecules and further form a cross‐linked network via the bonding interactions between FLPs and CO₂. Such CO₂‐bridged dative linkages are shown to be dynamic covalent bonds, which endow the frustrated Lewis network with adaptable behaviors and unprecedented gas‐regulated viscoelastic, mechanical, and self‐healing performance. This study is an initial attempt to apply the FLP concept in materials chemistry, but we believe that this strategy will open a promising future for gas‐sensitive smart materials.     

Enhanced Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Oxidation on Ni/NiO/C Derived from a Nickel‐Based Metal–Organic Framework

The sluggish hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) under alkaline conditions has hindered the commercialization of hydroxide‐exchange membrane hydrogen fuel cells. A low‐cost Ni/NiO/C catalyst with abundant Ni/NiO interfacial sites was developed as a competent HOR electrocatalyst in alkaline media. Ni/NiO/C exhibits an HOR activity one order of magnitude higher than that of its parent Ni/C counterpart. Moreover, Ni/NiO/C also shows better stability and CO tolerance than commercial Pt/C in alkaline media, which renders it a very promising HOR electrocatalyst for hydrogen fuel cell applications. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were also performed to shed light on the enhanced HOR performance of Ni/NiO/C; the DFT results indicate that both hydrogen and hydroxide achieve optimal binding energies at the Ni/NiO interface, resulting from the balanced electronic and oxophilic effects at the Ni/NiO interface.     

A Phthalocyanine‐Based Layered Two‐Dimensional Conjugated Metal–Organic Framework as a Highly Efficient Electrocatalyst for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Layered two‐dimensional (2D) conjugated metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) represent a family of rising electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), due to the controllable architectures, excellent electrical conductivity, and highly exposed well‐defined molecular active sites. Herein, we report a copper phthalocyanine based 2D conjugated MOF with square‐planar cobalt bis(dihydroxy) complexes (Co‐O₄) as linkages (PcCu‐O₈‐Co) and layer‐stacked structures prepared via solvothermal synthesis. PcCu‐O₈‐Co 2D MOF mixed with carbon nanotubes exhibits excellent electrocatalytic ORR activity (E_1/2=0.83 V vs. RHE, n=3.93, and j_L=5.3 mA cm^?2) in alkaline media, which is the record value among the reported intrinsic MOF electrocatalysts. Supported by in situ Raman spectro‐electrochemistry and theoretical modeling as well as contrast catalytic tests, we identified the cobalt nodes as ORR active sites. Furthermore, when employed as a cathode electrocatalyst for zinc–air batteries, PcCu‐O₈‐Co delivers a maximum power density of 94 mW cm^?2, outperforming the state‐of‐the‐art Pt/C electrocatalysts (78.3 mW cm^?2).     

Two‐Dimensional Metal–Organic Framework Nanosheets for Membrane‐Based Gas Separation

Metal–organic framework (MOF) nanosheets could serve as ideal building blocks of molecular sieve membranes owing to their structural diversity and minimized mass‐transfer barrier. To date, discovery of appropriate MOF nanosheets and facile fabrication of high performance MOF nanosheet‐based membranes remain as great challenges. A modified soft‐physical exfoliation method was used to disintegrate a lamellar amphiprotic MOF into nanosheets with a high aspect ratio. Consequently sub‐10 nm‐thick ultrathin membranes were successfully prepared, and these demonstrated a remarkable H₂/CO₂ separation performance, with a separation factor of up to 166 and H₂ permeance of up to 8×10⁻⁷ mol m⁻² s⁻¹ Pa⁻¹ at elevated testing temperatures owing to a well‐defined size‐exclusion effect. This nanosheet‐based membrane holds great promise as the next generation of ultrapermeable gas separation membrane.     

Boosting Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution over Metal–Organic Frameworks by Plasmon‐Induced Hot‐Electron Injection

Efficient hydrogen evolution via electrocatalytic water splitting holds great promise in modern energy devices. Herein, we demonstrate that the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) excitation of Au nanorods (NRs) dramatically improves the electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity of CoFe‐metal–organic framework nanosheets (CoFe‐MOFNs), leading to a more than 4‐fold increase of current density at ?0.236 V (vs. RHE) for Au/CoFe‐MOFNs composite under light irradiation versus in dark. Mechanistic investigations reveal that the hydrogen evolution enhancement can be largely attributed to the injection of hot electrons from AuNRs to CoFe‐MOFNs, raising the Fermi level of CoFe‐MOFNs, facilitating the reduction of H₂O and affording decreased activation energy for HER. This study highlights the superiority of plasmonic excitation on improving electrocatalytic efficiency of MOFs and provides a novel avenue towards the design of highly efficient water‐splitting systems under light irradiation.