Optical band-gap engineering of metal-organic crystals

Coordination chemistry offers promising strategy for designing new optical and optoelectronic metal-organic materials that can surpass existing materials with regard to the band-gap tuneability, extinction coefficient, quantum yield and the degree of coherence. The proposed project is centred on synthesis of crystalline coordination polymers (CPs) and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), and their optical defect engineering by molecular doping. The major focus will be put on the impact of intrinsic and induced optical defects on the band-gap, luminescence and quantum emission of mono-crystallites of CPs and MOFs. The photon statistics of the luminescence will be studied and single-photon emissions from molecular defects will be exploited. The optical tuneability of CPs and MOFs and their compatibility with electronics make them potential game changer that could revolutionize the whole of optoelectronics.