Two blue-light excitable yellow-emitting LMOF phosphors constructed by triangular tri(4-pyridylphenyl)amine

Abstract

Two luminescent metal–organic-frameworks (LMOFs) constructed by a molecular chromophore [tri(4-pyridylphenyl)amine] (tppa) were synthesized by solvothermal reactions and characterized by single crystal and powder X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, optical diffuse reflection, photoluminescence spectroscopy, and internal quantum yield measurements. Both compound 1 [Zn(tppa)(ndc)·(DMF)₄] and compound 2 [Zn₄(tppa)₂(sdc)₃(NO₃)₂·(DMF)₄·(ACN)₂] (ndc = 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, sdc = (E)-4,4′-(ethene-1,2-diyl)dibenzoic acid, DMF = dimethylformamide, ACN = acetonitrile) exhibit intense yellow emission under blue light (455 nm) excitation. The Commission International de I'Eclairage (CIE) coordinates of 1 (0.42, 0.53) and 2 (0.42, 0.54) are close to that of YAG:Ce³⁺ (0.41, 0.55) (λ_ex = 455 nm). The two phosphor materials show promise for use in phosphor-converted white LEDs (PC-WLEDs).