Photophysical properties of [Ru(2,2′-bipyridine)3]2+ encapsulated within the Uio-66 zirconium based metal organic framework

Abstract

The ability to encapsulate photo-active guest molecules within the pores of metal organic frameworks (MOFs) affords the opportunity to develop robust photocatalysts as well as solar energy conversion systems. An important criteria for such systems is stability of the new materials towards moisture, high temperatures, etc which preclude the use of many MOF frameworks. Here, the ability to encapsulate [Ru(II)(2,2′-bipyridine)3]2+([Ru(bpy)3]2+) into the cavities of the zirconium based MOF Uio-66 as well as the photophysical properties of the complex are reported. The X-ray powder diffraction data of the orange Uio-66 powder are consistent with the formation of Uio-66 in the presence of [Ru(bpy)3]2+. The steady state emission exhibits a significant bathochromic shift from 603nm in ethanol to 610nm in Uio-66. The corresponding emission decay of the encapsulated [Ru(bpy)3]2+ complex is biexponential with a fast component of 128ns and a slower component of 1176ns (20degC). The slow component is consistent with encapsulation of [Ru(bpy)3]2+ into cavities with restricted volume that prevents the population of a triplet ligand field transition that is anti-bonding with respect to the Ru-N bonds. The origin of the fast component is unclear but may involve interactions of the [Ru(bpy)3]2+ encapsulated within large cavities formed through missing ligand defect sites within the Uio-66 materials. Co-encapsulated quenchers contained within these larger cavities gives rise to the reduced lifetimes of the [Ru(bpy)3]2+ complexes.