Efficient Color Conversion in Metal–Organic Frameworks Boosts Optical Wireless Communications beyond 1 GB/s Data Rate

Efficient color converters are essential for achieving high -3-dB bandwidths and net data rates in optical wireless communications (OWCs). Here, we emphasize the significance of lanthanide-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) combined with an effective energy transfer strategy for developing high-performance color converters in OWC systems. In this approach, we successfully reduced the photoluminescence (PL) lifetime from 1.3 ms of the MOF to 4.6 ns of the MOF-chromophore composite, achieved through an efficient energy transfer process in the cavity and surface of the MOFs. This significant reduction in PL lifetime led to a dramatic increase in the -3-dB bandwidth, rising from less than 0.1 to 65.7 MHz. Most importantly, a net data rate of 1.076 GB/s was achieved, marking the first successful demonstration of lanthanide-based MOFs as color converters that facilitate data transmission rates exceeding 1 GB/s. Notably, both the -3-dB bandwidth and net data rate surpass those of most reported organic and inorganic materials, underscoring the exceptional potential of lanthanide-based MOFs when combined with an efficient energy transfer strategy. We believe this combination paves the way for further innovations in high-speed OWC technologies.