Nanoconfinement of tetraphenylethylene in zeolitic metal-organic framework for turn-on mechanofluorochromic stress sensing

• First AIE@MOF system and it possesses turn-on type mechanofluorochromism. Nanoconfinement effect under pressure restricts intramolecular vibrations of TPE. TPE@ZIF-71 shows real engineering applications potential. Mechanofluorochromic materials are great significance for the fabrication innovative sensors optoelectronics. However, efficient mechanofluorochromic rarely explored due to deficiency existing design strategies. Here, we demonstrate incarceration aggregation-induced emission (AIE) within metal-organic framework (MOF) single crystals construct a composite with A new material was designed: integrating zeolitic MOF (ZIF-71) tetraphenylethylene (TPE, topical AIE material) generate exceptional Using terahertz vibrational spectroscopy, show unique fluorochromism mainly emanates from enhanced nanoconfinement exerted by ZIF-71 host on TPE guest pressure. Compared pure TPE, in not only changes TPE's turn-off sensing behavior type, but boosts original sensitivity markedly tenfold. Significantly, because prevents spontaneous recrystallization upon unloading, this allows record stress history. This is first demonstration Guest@MOF combining concepts MOF; its promising properties potential will stimulate directions pertaining luminescent smart optics.