Integration of Open Metal Sites in an Amino-Functionalized Sm(III)–Organic Framework toward Enhanced Third-Order Nonlinear Optical Property

A variety of new inorganic and organic materials have emerged to advance laser technologies and optical engineering. A rational design approach can contribute significantly to fabricating nonlinear optically active metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) by considering the underlying structure-property linkage. Here, it has been embarked on a study of novel samarium(III) MOF, ([Sm₂(ata)₃(DMF)₄]·DMF (ata^2-: 2-aminoterephthalate), abbreviated as NH₂-Sm-MUM-4) with enhanced nonlinear optical (NLO) properties. The crystal structure of this MOF represents a 6-connected framework with a <b>pcu</b> topology and distinctive characteristics, including open metal sites, free amine groups, and great stability, making it suitable for third-order NLO activity. The nonlinear index of refraction (<i>n</i>₂) revealed the self-focusing impacts of NH₂-Sm-MUM-4 at different incident intensities. The highest value of <i>n</i>₂ and β related to 10 mw power of incident intensity are 5.15 cm²/W and 2.65 cm/W, respectively. As far as the authors know, this is the first study examining the potential systematic structural-property associations in Sm-MOFs considering improved third-order NLO properties.