AIEgen modulated per-functionalized flower-like IRMOF-3 frameworks with tunable light emission and excellent sensing properties.

A series of functional IRMOF-3 frameworks with solid-state luminescence and tuneable light emission (from 490 to 608 nm) have been synthesized by per-functionalizing AIE-active Schiff-bases with zinc. These precursor AIE-active ligands endowed the functional frameworks with boosted fluorescence emission efficiencies (from 0.16% to 1.03%). IRMOF-3-h revealed a flower-like morphology attributed to the formation of J-aggregates, and could be used as a fluorescent probe for sensitive detection of copper(ii) (135 pM) and thiols (subnanomole).