Elucidating Photochromic Behaviour of Photoswitchable Metal-Organic Framework Composites (Guest@MOF) via INS with In Situ Illumination

We propose to employ the TOSCA spectrometer coupled with in-situ ultraviolet (UV) illumination to perform inelastic neutron scattering (INS) of a new family of photochromic metal-organic framework materials, termed “PG@MOF” composites. The objectives are summarised below. (i) To determine the broadband vibrational spectra of the photochromic MOF composites encapsulating a photoswitchable photochromic guest (PG) molecule. (ii) To investigate how the THz dynamics of the MOF cage may be affected by photoswitching of PG subject to in-situ UV illumination. (iii) To understand the nature of guest-host interactions under nanoscale confinement. The results will pave the way to new understanding of novel photoswitchable composites for engineering smart sensors and lighting applications.