Synthesis, structural characterization and third-order non-linear optical property of new three-dimensional metal-organic framework image (M = Ni, Co)

Two three-dimensional (3-D) isostructural metal-organic frameworks image (M = Ni, Co; btc = 1,2,4,5-benzenetetracarboxylate, pyramellitate, image; ox = oxalate, image) have been synthesized hydrothermally and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Each 3-D structure is built from the linkage of secondary building units of trinuclear [M3(CO2)3] clusters by a mixed connector of oxalate and pyromellitate. The third-order non-linear optical properties of the title compounds were studied and both exhibit the reverse saturable absorption and self-defocusing performance with the γ values of 5.03 × 10−30 esu for 1 and 3.04 × 10−30 esu for 2.