Phase transition of metal–organic frameworks for regulating the fluorescence properties of dyes

Abstract

Encapsulating dye molecules into metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) with high loadings and tunable photophysical properties is promising for future applications in opto-electronic displays, but it is challenging to match the channel size of the MOFs with the dimensions of the dyes. Here, we report a pressure-induced stimulated-aging (PISA) strategy that enables a large number of dyes to be well dispersed and confined within MOFs (denoted as dyes@MOFs). The fluorescence properties of these dyes can be regulated through the MOF microenvironment. Specifically, the fluorescence lifetime and quantum yield of rhodamine B (RhB)@ZIF-8 are 5–6 times higher than those of solid RhB. Moreover, the dyes@MOFs composites are fabricated into patterns and exhibit application prospects for multicolor displays, information encryption and storage.