Photo-exfoliation of a highly photo-responsive two-dimensional metal-organic framework

When exposed to UV (365 nm, 2 mW) radiation, the bulk crystals of a two-dimensional metal-organic framework [Hphen] 2 [(UO 2 ) 2 (ox) 3 ] (1,phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, ox = oxalate) are exfoliated into thin sheets (2 μm) and its photoluminescence can be quenched in an incredibly sensitive manner, setting 1 as a superior UV-detection material. When upgrading the UV source into a 300 W xenon light source, the crystals of 1 can be further exfoliated into monolayer nanosheets (0.92 nm). For the first time, we are successful in preparing 2D MOF nanosheets in a monolayer manner via photo-exfoliation.