Gel metal-organiko lumineszenteak: MOFen alternatiba diren material sentsore berriak.

Abstract

Among coordination polymers, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are well known for their porosity and distinctive structures, but their rigidity and poor processability limit their practical applications. To address this issue, metal–organic gels (MOGs) have been developed, preserving the physicochemical properties of MOFs while offering a more flexible and easily processable structure. MOGs form three-dimensional porous networks that are stabilized in the presence of a solvent, but once solvent is released the interactions between the metal-organic structure and a molecule present in the environment can modulate their properties. This makes MOGs promising smart materials, particularly suitable for developing optical sensors capable of detecting the presence of surrounding molecules. Furthermore, MOGs based on lanthanides exhibit luminescent properties, as they show selective and brightly coloured luminescence through the so-called “antenna effect,” enabling highly sensitive and selective detection processes. This work examines the synthesis, structure, and optical behavior of lanthanide-based MOG materials, and presents a practical example of a luminescent europium xerogel, highlighting its potential as a luminescent sensor. In this sense, the nature of MOG materials allows them to show easier tunability and processability. Therefore, they may be considered an interesting research line for the detection of emerging pollutants and the development of smart optical devices, combining soft-matter science with coordination chemistry.