Tuning the Photophysical and Photochemical Properties of Rare-Earth Cluster-Based Metal–Organic Frameworks

The design and synthesis of luminescent and photoactive metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are of interest from both a fundamental and application standpoint. Luminescent and photoactive MOFs can be designed to have photophysical properties similar to those of other materials, with the added benefit of possessing a large surface area and high porosity. The incorporation of lanthanoids within cluster-based MOF metal nodes coupled with the strategic utilization of conjugated organic linkers allows for the design of materials with unique and highly tunable photophysical and photochemical properties. This Spotlight on Applications highlights our efforts in the development of various luminescent and photochemically active rare-earth (RE) cluster-based MOFs as well as the potential applications of these materials. The interplay between lanthanoid elements and organic linkers in MOFs is crucial toward the design and synthesis of RE-MOFs with tailored photophysical and photochemical properties. The paper focuses on methods for tuning the luminescent properties of RE-MOFs via the antenna effect, resulting in either metal-based, linker-based, or dual metal- and linker-based luminescence. Furthermore, strategies for producing singlet oxygen by the incorporation of photosensitizers in RE-MOFs are discussed. Through this work, we aim to shine light on the diversity of the structure, function, and potential applications of RE-MOFs.